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DAVID JAMES BURRELL D.D 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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(lass IB S & 5 ft 5* 

Book 3^g 

Copyright 1\ 10 . 



CfiEflHGHT DEPOSm 



Paul's Campaigns 



By 
David James Burrell, D.D., LL.D. 

Author of 'The Apostles' Creed," "We Would See 

Jesus," "The Old-Time Religion," "At the 

Gate Beautiful," "The Cloister 

Book," etc., etc. 



PriiPP 



American Tract Society 

Park Avenue and 40th Street 
New York 

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Copyright, 1918, 
By American Tract Society 



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©GI.A503811 



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CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Introduction v 

Foreword vii 

Saul op Tarsus 1 

The Summons .3 

The Rendezvous ....*,. 5 

The First Journey. Chart ... 10 

At Antioch in Pisidia .... 14 

In the Mountains of Lycaonia . 18 

The Return 24 

A Parenthesis 28 

VIII. The Second Journey. Chart ... 35 

IX. On to Europe 39 

X. At Thessalonica 44 

XI. At Bercea 48 

XII. At Athens 53 

XIII. At Corinth 59 

XIV. The Third Journey. Chart ... 65 
XV. A Busy Tear 71 

XVI. At Miletus 77 

XVII. Bound for Jerusalem .... 83 

XVIII. At C^sarea 92 

XIX. Paul's Last Voyage. Chart . . .101 

XX. At Rome 107 



INTRODUCTION 

This little book is written in the hope of 
bringing order out of the confusion which 
prevails in the minds of many Bible students 
as to the Journeys of Paul. 

In a frontier town in the West, sixty odd 
years ago, a Sunday School class of boys was 
required to commit to memory the "Acts of 
the Apostles." Their teacher was John 
Bally, a carpenter by trade, who found it 
easy enough to interest his pupils until they 
reached the Journeys of Paul, where, in the 
labyrinth of crossings by land and tackings 
by sea, they were, like Milton's fallen angels, 
"in wandering mazes lost." 

There is something to be said for this old- 
fashioned way of lodging the Scriptures in 
the youthful mind, — seven verses a Sunday 
for a blue ticket, seven blues for a red, seven 
reds for a yellow and seven yellows for a 
Testament with the Superintendent's name 



vi INTRODUCTION 

on the fly leaf. The pride of that day ! Of 
course we wondered what was the use of 
memorizing such a verse, for example, as 
this: " There arose a tempestuous wind 
called Euroclydon; and when the ship was 
caught and could not bear up into the wind 
we let her drive": but many a time in the 
passing of the years that same remembered 
verse has helped me. What better can one 
do indeed, when tossed about by contrary 
winds, than to cast out the tackling, under- 
gird the ship with prayers and promises and 
"let her drive"? 

The writer, who was one of John B ally's 
boys, ventures the hope that the following 
pages may inspire a deeper confidence in the 
profitableness of all Scripture" for doctrine, 
for reproof, for correction, for instruction 
in righteousness." 




FOREWORD 

Acts 1 : 1-9 

The opening words of the Acts of the 
Apostles are singularly significant: "The 
former treatise (i. e. The Gospel according 
to Luke) I made, Theophilus, concerning 
all that Jesus began both to do and to teach." 
By this we are given to understand that our 
Lord's earthly ministry of thirty years was 
only the beginning of a campaign of doing 
and teaching which must continue until 
every knee shall bow before him. 

What then did the dying Saviour mean 
when he cried, "It is finished!" 

Not that all sinners were saved. The 
paying of the ransom on Golgotha made all 
alike salvable; but they had yet to be in- 
formed of the Good News and "constrained 
to come in." 

Not that the Kingdom of Heaven was 
established on earth. The foundation was 
now laid and cemented with blood: but the 

vii 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

superstructure had yet to be reared upon it. 

Not that Christ had so fully completed his 
work that nothing remained for his disciples 
to do. On the contrary, a long campaign 
was before them, "as laborers together " 
with him. 

This was the particular reason why Jesus 
returned after his resurrection and remained 
with them forty days. He wished to mark 
out the Plan of the Campaign which they 
and their successors were to pursue for the 
evangelization of the world. 

The keynote was struck in the word "Go" 
which rings through the record of the forty 
days. 

But the disciples were loath to go. They 
remained in and about Jerusalem for at least 
five years, until persecution drove them out. 
At the stoning of Stephen "they that were 
scattered abroad went everywhere preach- 
ing the word." Had they taken Christ at 
his word in the first instance that tragedy 
might have been unnecessary. The Master 
is a great Teacher; in one way or another 
he insists on having his way with those who 
follow him. 

viii 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 



SAUL OF TARSUS 

Acts 9:1-22 

A year or two after the death of Stephen 
a young man named Saul, of Tarsus, was 
converted to Christ. He had been a witness 
of the tragedy referred to, had "held the 
clothes" of the sanctimonious platoon, had 
seen the martyr's face shining "as it had 
been the face of an angel," and had heard 
his cry, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 
He was unable to escape the logic of that 
scene. The face that shone amid the shower 
of stones must have haunted his dreams, un- 
til the day came when, on his way down to 
Damascus "breathing out slaughter against 
the disciples," he saw again the light that 
had glorified the face of Stephen and heard 
a Voice that filled his soul with trembling, 

I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest!" 



u 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

Blinded for a season, lie saw things hidden 
from fleshly eyes ; and turning right-about- 
face he cried, "Lord, what wilt thou have 
me to do?" The answer in brief was, 
"Go!" 

Three days later, in the house of one Judas, 
of Damascus, his commission was more 
clearly outlined as "a chosen vessel to de- 
clare the name of Christ to Gentiles and 
kings and the children of Israel." He then 
received his sight, was baptized and straight- 
way began to preach Christ. 



II 

THE SUMMONS 

Acts 11 : 19-26 

[Here occurs an Interval of Seven Years.] 

It chanced that among those who had been 
scattered abroad at the stoning of Stephen, 
some had gone with the gospel as far as 
Antioch in Syria, where a revival occurred 
in which "a great number believed and 
turned unto the Lord." The Church at 
Jerusalem was appealed to for help, and it 
sent Barnabas, who was destined to figure 
largely in the enterprises of the early 
Church. 

BARNABAS 

Our information about this man is as fol- 
lows : First, he was called "the son of Con- 
solation," which intimates that his heart was 
full of kindliness. Second, he was "a good 
man"; a most comprehensive phrase. 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

Third, he was "full of the Holy Ghost," that 
is, surcharged. with spiritual light and power. 
Fourth, he was "full of faith," the faith that 
makes things-hoped-for substantial and 
establishes things-not-seen upon evidence 
that cannot be gainsaid. Great qualifica- 
tions, these, for a missionary intent upon the 
winning of souls. 

SAUL OF TARSUS SENT FOR 

The work at Antioch grew to such dimen- 
sions that Barnabas was moved to cast about 
for some evangelist to help him. His 
thoughts immediately turned to Saul of 
Tarsus. Where was he I After his conver- 
sion, feeling the need of further thought and 
training, he had betaken himself to the Ara- 
bian desert. What a theological course that 
was! After finishing his three years' cur- 
riculum among the solitudes, he returned to 
Tarsus to await further orders. 

This was where Barnabas found him. 
"And he brought him unto Antioch." 
There great things awaited him, as we shall 
see. 



Ill 

THE RENDEZVOUS 

Acts 13 : 1-3 

The center of operations, which had hith- 
erto been in Jerusalem, was now to be 
shifted to Antioch in Syria. At the begin- 
ning of our narrative the work in this great 
Gentile center had continued for a whole 
year under the direction of Barnabas and 
Paul. 1 

Observe that Saul at this time assumed 
his Roman name, which was the proper thing 
for him to do in a Gentile city. 

Observe, also, that the names of Barnabas 
and Paul will occur hereafter in the reverse 

iA side-light is thrown upon the fraternal relations of the 
Jewish and Gentile Christians by the events recorded in Acts 
11:27-30 and 12. It appears that Paul and Barnabas left 
Antioch, while the revival was in progress, to carry to Jeru- 
salem a contribution for the relief of the famine-sufferers 
there. The state of affairs in Jerusalem at the time is set 
forth vividly in this parenthesis, which, though important as 
a link in the history of the early Church, is here omitted be- 
cause it has no immediate bearing on the story of the mission* 
ary journeys. 

5 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

order; because as the campaign progresses 
the latter forges to the front. 

And observe that the preaching of these 
missionaries is so Christocentric that the 
converts are " first called Christians in Anti- 
och"; a title originally given in derision but 
clothed with honor the world over to this day. 

PREPARATIONS 

In one of the early meetings of that mem- 
orable year at Antioch an incident oc- 
curred which gave a directing and controll- 
ing influence to subsequent events. The 
Voice of the Holy Spirit was heard saying, 
" Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the 
work whereunto I have called them." In 
this divine call, re-emphasizing the commis- 
sion of Christ, we find the rationale of an en- 
terprise which was destined to change the 
currents and countercurrents of all history 
and set them flowing, just in the measure of 
Christian faithfulness, toward the Golden 
Age. 

First. These men were " separated" to 
"go." All followers of Christ are required 
to "go" in like manner, and to keep going 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

as witnesses and evangelists of Christ; but 
all are not separated for work in "the re- 
gions beyond" like these men. Some are 
called to go down to the porches of Bethesda 
or out into the highways and hedges as city 
missionaries ; others to go through the fron- 
tier villages of Galilee as home missionaries ; 
still others to go into the coasts of Tyre and 
Sidon and the regions beyond as foreign 
missionaries. But as Paul and Barnabas, 
when they sallied forth, were sustained by 
the united prayers and substantial support 
of all who remained behind, so are the Chris- 
tians of our time required and expected to 
stand behind the missionaries whom they 
send forth to the lands that lie in pagan 
darkness and the shadow of death. The 
words of William Carey when embarking 
for India, "As I go down into the mine, I 
depend upon you to hold the rope," put to 
an open shame all those who oppose world- 
wide evangelism. 

Second. Paul and Barnabas were joined 
together for the work. So were the seventy 
sent out two and two; because "two are bet- 
ter than one, for if one fall the other will 

7 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

lift him up." And there was a particular 
fitness in the companionship of these two; 
because the fervor of one would strengthen 
and supplement the gentleness of the other. 
In process of time Paul and Barnabas had 
two quarrels ; once over the wisdom of con- 
tinuing the services of John Mark, whose 
courage had failed him at the foot of the 
Macedonian hills (Acts 15:36-40) and 
again over the necessity of admitting con- 
verts to the church through the door of Jew- 
ish ceremonialism (Gal. 2:11-13). But 
both these quarrels were adjusted in a 
friendly spirit. 

Third. They were not only " separated' ' 
and joined together but equipped for their 
work. They had faith, courage and the 
charismata, or special gifts of the Spirit, 
for the working of " signs and wonders' ' to 
buttress their message. Indeed they had 
everything but money. Of this Barnabas 
had none, because he had previously given 
up all his possessions for the relief of needy 
Christians (Acts 4 : 36, 37) ; and as for Paul, 
he had undoubtedly been ostracised and 
stripped of his birthright when he accepted 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

Christ (Phil. 4:16-18). Thus they went 
forth, according to the Master's injunction, 
" without scrip or money in their purse,' ' 
but strong in faith and in the power of the 
Holy Ghost. 

GOING WITHOUT GOLD 

It is greatly to be feared that in our time 
we are laying too exclusive an emphasis on 
the financial factor in missions. The work 
requires money, no doubt ; but money is not 
the principal thing. The most wonderful 
results in the history of the propaganda 
have been accomplished by men of consecra- 
tion who, once convinced that they were sent 
of God, waited for no further send-off. For 
the furnishing of the workers and the endow- 
ment of the work all Christians are required 
to give generously of the possessions which, 
as the Lord's stewards, they hold in trust, 
and subject to His call ; but, whether there be 
money in the scrip or not, whosoever is "sent 
to seek and to save the lost" must go. And 
the wealth that builds schools, hospitals and 
churches is vain without an assurance that 
God can, if need be, wholly dispense with it. 



IV 
THE FIRST JOURNEY 

Acts 13 : 4-12 

The Campaign was now under way. 

On setting out from Antioch in Syria the 
two missionaries, accompanied by John 
Mark as a courier and assistant, turned their 
faces toward the island of Cyprus, probably 
for two reasons; first, because it was the 
birthplace of Barnabas (Acts 4 : 36) and 
second, because there were Christians there 
to welcome them (Acts 11: 20). 

AT SALAMIS 

A quick run of a hundred miles, between 
sunrise and sunset, would convey them from 
Seleucia, the seaport of Antioch, to Salamis 
on the eastern coast of Cyprus. Of their 
work in this place there is no record except 
this, "They preached the word of God in the 
synagogues of the Jews." 

10 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

The fact that there was more than one 
synagogue there gives us to understand that 
the missionaries had access to many Jews; 
but what are we to infer from the absence 
of persecution and the narrator's silence as 
to conversions? Were their hearers in 
Salamis so hidebound in formal sacerdotal- 
ism as to cavil at the "good news/' or so in- 
different to the claims of their own Messiah 
that they wilfully hid as it were their faces 
from him? In any case the missionaries 
left the place conscious of having done their 
best and hopefully trusting in the promise, 
"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing 
precious seed, shall doubtless come again 
with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with 
him." 

AT PAPHOS 

On the other side of the island, a hundred 
miles away, was Paphos, a city of a different 
sort. It was important as the residence of 
Sergius Paulus, the Roman governor, who 
is mentioned as a "prudent man." He had 
in his retinue a soothsayer whom he was ac- 
customed to consult, particularly in matters 

11 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

pertaining to religion. But the mind of 
Sergius was nevertheless open to conviction ; 
so that on hearing of the arrival of the mis- 
sionaries he invited them to come and unfold 
"the word of God." At this point, how- 
ever, the soothsayer interposed and would 
have made the gospel of none effect but for 
the vigorous onset of Paul: "O full of all 
subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the 
devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt 
thou not cease to pervert the right ways of 
the Lord! And now, behold, the hand of 
the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be 
blind, not seeing the sun for a season." 
Whereupon there fell on him a mist and a 
darkness; so that he must needs have some 
to lead him. 

Here vanishes Elymas the soothsayer. 
Let us hope that his temporary blindness, 
like that which had previously befallen Paul 
himself, enabled him to see spiritual things 
in the right way. 

As for the governor, he was convinced of 

the truth of the Gospel and "believed"; that 

is, he accepted Christ with a saving faith. 

The itinerants had no intention of tarry- 

12 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

ing long in Paphos or, for that matter, any- 
where else. They had delivered their mes- 
sage and could well afford to leave the re- 
sults with God. 

The ship was ready to sail ; a south wind 
was blowing. Farewell to Cyprus, and to 
Sergius Paulus rejoicing in newness of life ! 
On to the regions beyond, where other souls 
were awaiting the good news ! 



13 



AT ANTIOCH IN PISIDIA 

Acts 13 : 13-52 

The port of entry in Pamphylia, where 
the missionaries landed, was the ancient and 
honorable city of Perga. It was now mid- 
summer, when most of the people were in the 
cool shelter of the mountains ; wherefore, 
without tarrying, they resolved to push on. 

At this juncture John Mark, the nephew 
of Barnabas, who had accompanied them as 
courier, announced that he would go no fur- 
ther. Perhaps the perils of the mountains 
frightened him; or possibly he was home- 
sick, longing for his widowed mother in 
Jerusalem. Whatever the reason, he " de- 
parted and went not with them to the work. " 
This was doubtless a great disappointment 
to his uncle Barnabas, but even more so to 
Paul who, as we have seen, was slow to for- 
get it. (Acts 15: 37-40.) 

14 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

The next objective point of the itinerary 
was Antioeh in Pisidia, which lay about a 
hundred miles inland among the hills. It 
would be at least a three days' journey for 
these footmen, through an uninhabited coun- 
try. We may imagine Paul and Barnabas 
holding converse along the way, staff in 
hand, weary but resolute, kneeling together 
at nightfall and sleeping under the stars. 

The Sabbath after their arrival found 
them in the synagogue. Their presence was 
observed ; and after the reading of the Scrip- 
ture lesson the usual invitation was given, 
"Brethren, if ye have any word of exhorta- 
tion for the people, say on." Paul, on such 
occasions, always did have something to say. 
The message that trembled on his lips when- 
ever he stood in the presence of his fellow- 
Jews was, "This Jesus is the Christ." So 
here; the burden of his first recorded ser- 
mon is the Messiahship of Jesus, whom they 
had crucified, despite what was written, 
"Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and per- 
ish : for I work a work in your days which 
ye shall not believe though a man declare 
it unto you." 

15 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

The sermon made so deep an impression 
that Paul was urged to preach again on the 
next Sabbath ; but during the week the rab- 
bis had fomented such opposition that, when 
the congregation reassembled, there was a 
concerted uproar against him. 

Then occurred one of the most significant 
and far-reaching incidents of the campaign. 
The missionaries turned upon their turbu- 
lent Jewish assailants with these words: 
"It was necessary that the word of God 
should first have been spoken to you ; but see- 
ing ye put it from you and judge yourselves 
unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the 
Gentiles!" 

Thus was the key turned to open the gos- 
pel door to all people. Thenceforth the 
walls of separation were broken down. The 
Gentiles were glad to listen, and many of 
them were converted to Christ: but as for 
the missionaries, the Jews being filled with 
rage "expelled them out of their coasts.' 9 

On leaving Antioch they " shook off the 
dust of their feet," to signify that, having 
done their utmost, they were free from re- 

16 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

sponsibility for the welfare of those who 
persistently refused the good news. 

But their work had not been as " water 
poured upon the ground, which cannot be 
gathered up again"; for they left behind 
them not a few disciples " filled with joy and 
with the Holy Ghost." So did these har- 
vesters pass on to the regions beyond, re- 
joicing that their labor was not in vain in 
the Lord. 



17 



VI 
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF LYCAONIA 

Acts 14 : 1-20 

On being driven out of Antioch in Pisidia 
the missionaries crossed the border and pur- 
sued their way along the great highway lead- 
ing from Ephesus to the valley of the Eu- 
phrates. This was one of the roads which 
Caesar had constructed in pursuance of his 
purpose of universal conquest. Little did he 
dream that it was destined to be used subse- 
quently for the propaganda of the Prince of 
Peace. 

AT IC0NIUM 

On this great highway, about sixty miles 
east of Antioch, lay the important city of 
Iconium. For three days at least the mis- 
sionaries trudged on afoot through a deso- 
late country, leaving no word on record as to 
the indubitable dangers that befell them 
along the way. 

On reaching the city they at once, accord- 
is 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

ing to their custom, betook themselves to the 
synagogue, where " they so spake that a great 
multitude,' ' not only of the Jews but of the 
Hellenists — that is, Gentiles who had es- 
poused the worship of Jehovah — were con- 
verted. In the words "they so spake " we 
have an intimation that Paul preached his 
customary sermon, "opening and alleging 
that Jesus is the Christ." 

Of course there was trouble ; and as a mat- 
ter of course the unbelieving Jews began 
and fostered it. Nevertheless the mission- 
aries kept up their work for "a long time," 
probably for some months; and they might 
have continued it indefinitely but for an as- 
sault led by the rabbis of the synagogue, 
with certain Gentiles whose minds were 
"evil affected against them." "Whereupon 
the two yokefellows, mindful of the Master's 
words, "When they persecute you in one 
city flee unto another," left Iconium and 
plodded on. 

AT LYSTRA 

A journey of about forty miles to the 
southeast, on the same highway, brought 

19 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

them to Lystra, an out-of-the-way place with 
few attractions for visitors. But there were 
souls there needing to be brought out of 
darkness into light. 

The town had no synagogue. Just out- 
side the gate was a Temple for the worship 
of Jupiter: and thereby hangs a tale. It 
was believed that Jupiter with his messenger 
Mercury had once visited Lystra. The story 
is told by Ovid on this wise : 

1 ' Here Jove with Hermes came ; but in disguise 
Of mortal men concealed their deities. 
One laid aside his thunder, one his rod, 
And many toilsome steps together trod. 
For harbor at a thousand doors they knocked ; 
Not one of all the thousand but was locked. 
At last a hospitable house they found, 
A homely shed ; the roof not far from ground 
Was thatched with reeds and straw together bound. 
There Baucis and Philemon lived. 
Prom lofty roofs the gods repulsed before, 
Now stooping, entered through the little door. 
The man (their hearty welcome first expressed) 
A common settle drew for either guest.' ' 

The neighbors who had refused to enter- 
tain their divine visitors were subsequently 

punished by a terrible flood; but Philemon 

20 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

and Baucis were rewarded by seeing their 
hut miraculously changed into a splendid 
temple, in which they were appointed to 
minister to the gods. 

11 Their little shed, scarce large enough for two, 
Seems from the ground increased, in height and bulk 

to grow. 
A stately temple shoots within the skies : 
The crotchets of their cot in columns rise : 
The pavement polished marble they behold ; 
The gates with sculpture graced, the spires and tiles 

of gold." 

The preaching of the missionaries at Lys- 
tra was in the market-places and open courts 
of the houses. One of the far-reaching con- 
quests here was the conversion of a Jewess 
named Eunice, with her mother Lois and her 
son Timothy, a youth who was destined to 
play an important part as one of Paul's 
most efficient helpers in after years. 

The miraculous healing of a cripple — who 
had doubtless been brought into the congre- 
gation to solicit alms — led the people to con- 
clude that the gods were making them an- 
other visit. Barnabas, the taller and more 

imposing man, was taken for Jupiter: and 

21 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

Paul, eloquent but of "mean presence/ ' was 
Mercury, his messenger. 

A rush was made for the Temple outside 
the gate; oxen were brought for sacri- 
fices and garlands to crown the celestial vis- 
itors. Meanwhile the preaching in the open 
court went on; until the pagan priest, ar- 
rayed for sacrificial rites, appeared in the 
doorway. Then, in sudden consternation, 
the missionaries dispelled the illusion, cry- 
ing, ' ' Sirs, why do ye these things I We also 
are men of like passions with you, and 
preach that ye should turn from these vani- 
ties unto the living God!" No saint-wor- 
ship for them ! (Rev. 22 : 8, 9.) 

It is but a short way from garlands to 
cobble-stones. No doubt some of those who 
had followed Christ on Palm Sunday cry- 
ing, "Hosanna to the Son of David, " were 
in the mob that on the next Friday shouted, 
" Crucify him!' 7 So here; there was a 
speedy reaction, due to the influence of cer- 
tain ones who had pursued the missionaries 
from Antioch and Iconium to oppose them. 
Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city and 
left for dead. A few faithful friends— 

22 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

Barnabas with Lois and Eunice and young 
Timothy — ministered to him. 

But Paul was not dead. A man is im- 
mortal till his work is done v The Lord had 
further need of him. So he arose ; and the 
next morning, sadly bruised but undaunted 
in spirit, he with faithful Barnabas trudged 
on. 

AT DERBE 

The city of Derbe lay on the same road 
twenty miles further on. Their ministry 
here was undisturbed. Probably their en- 
emies, "supposing that Paul was dead," con- 
gratulated themselves that the campaign of 
these troublers, who were "turning the 
world upside down," had come to an end. 
But the work continued and in Derbe 
"many were taught." Among them was a 
certain Gaius, who would presently join the 
itinerant group as a faithful servant of 
Christ. (Acts 20: 4.) 



23 



vn 

THE RETURN 

Acts 14:21-28 

If the mind of Paul had not been so wholly 
concentrated on the business in hand he 
would surely have turned aside on leaving 
Derbe to visit his old home at Tarsus, which 
was only a few miles away. But the love of 
Christ constrained both him and Barnabas ; 
and they were much concerned for the con- 
verts whom they had left behind them. 
Who could tell what persecutions had be- 
fallen them, or how many had been allured 
from the faith? 

For this reason they resolved to retrace 
their steps. Danger lay that way, but duty 
also. Wherefore, like their Master, they 
"set their faces steadfastly to go." One 
city after another they revisited— Lystra, 
Iconium, Antioch — fearless amid the scenes 
of former persecution, intent upon encour- 

24 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

aging their converts and building the super- 
structure of their character and usefulness 
on the foundations of their faith. 

In the account of the backward journey 
of these missionaries we have a clear outline 
of their logical method of procedure. 

First, Evangelization. This comes fore- 
most always in ministerial work: the pres- 
entation of the gospel as the power of God 
unto salvation. To omit this is to run with- 
out a message and to forfeit the penny at 
evening, "Well done, good servant !" Alas 
for a minister who does not realize his high 
privilege and responsibility as a winner of 
souls ! 

Second, Edification, or "building up" in 
the most holy faith. In the words "con- 
firming the souls of the disciples" there is 
of course no reference to any formal cere- 
mony of i c confirmation, ? ' but to the strength- 
ening of their belief in Christ and loyalty to 
him. This is further emphasized by the ex- 
hortation "to continue in the faith; and that 
we must through much tribulation (literally, 
harrowing) enter into the kingdom of God." 

It is a mistake to suppose that our full 

25 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

salvation is accomplished when we accept 
Christ. That does, indeed, deliver us from 
the penalty of sin ; but it is only the begin- 
ning of that larger " salvation which is ready 
to be revealed in the last time." This is the 
salvation which we are to "work out with 
fear and trembling, ' 9 to work out into its full 
fruition of character and usefulness. And 
it is the business of every minister to see 
that Christians are thus confirmed in their 
most holy faith. 

Third, Organization. As they revisited 
the scene of their former labors the mission- 
aries "ordained elders in every church.' ■ 
These elders or "presbyters," who are else- 
where called "bishops," were chosen by the 
people, as indicated by the word "ordained," 
which literally means " elected by a show of 
hands." Thus the converts were organized 
into churches — not only for self-government 
but for co-operation in service — and "com- 
mended to the Lord." 

AT PERGA 

This done, Paul and Barnabas pushed on 
to Perga, the seaport where they had done 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

nothing on their previous visit. As the 
summer was now over and the people had re- 
turned to their homes, the missionaries tar- 
ried and " preached the word." 

Then — probably because there was no ves- 
sel in port — they went on to the neighboring 
town of Attalia, where they took ship ; and 
so back to Antioch in Syria. 

AT ANTIOCH IN SYRIA 

The Church assembled to hear their report 
of "all that God had done with them" dur- 
ing the two or three years of their absence ; 
and there was great rejoicing as Paul and 
Barnabas rehearsed how God had "opened 
the door of faith unto the Gentiles." 

So ended the first of the great Missionary 
Journeys. "A long time" elapsed before 
another was undertaken ; but a zealous spirit 
like Paul's cannot be confined in any "pent- 
up Utica. " We shall presently see him ven- 
turing forth upon an enterprise still more 
boldly planned to carry the gospel to the ut- 
termost parts of the earth. 



27 



A PAEENTHESIS 

Acts 15 : 1-35 

[Not long after the return of Paul and 
Barnabas from their first missionary tour a 
serious trouble developed in the church at 
Antioch. It was fomented by certain con- 
verts who, like Paul himself, had previously 
belonged to "the most straitest sect" of 
Jewry, but, unlike him, had not fully entered 
into "the glorious liberty of the children of 
God." 

The contention was that Gentile converts 
should enter the Christian Church by the 
Jewish door ; that is, they must submit them- 
selves to the ceremonial law. Now the cere- 
monial law, which was typical and prophet- 
ical of Christ, had been fulfilled at his com- 
ing, and therefore had passed away, as mists 
vanish at the rising of the sun. So it is 
written, "He blotted out the handwriting of 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

ordinances that was against us, and took it 
out of the way, nailing it to his cross.' ' 
(Col. 2:14.) The Gentile Christians main- 
tained that salvation was conditioned sim- 
ply and solely on personal faith in Christ; 
but these high-churchmen insisted that un- 
less they would comply with the Jewish re- 
quirements "they could not be saved.' ' 

The two positions were irreconcilable. 
The breach widened accordingly, and the 
trouble spread rapidly among the churches. 
Something must be done and done quickly. 
A deputation, including Paul and Barnabas, 
was chosen to go up to the mother church at 
Jerusalem and confer with the apostles and 
elders about it. 

THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM 

The distance from Antioch to Jerusalem 
was about three hundred miles: more than 
five times what it would be by the travelling 
facilities of our time. On their journey the 
delegates conferred with churches along the 
way and were doubtless joined by other com- 
missioners. When they reached Jerusalem 
an informal conference was first held with 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

the apostles and elders, after which the 
Council was convened, with James, the pas- 
tor of the mother church, in the chair. 

This was the first, and in many respects 
the most significant, of a series of (Ecumen- 
ical Councils held at intervals, as occasion 
seemed to require, down to the time of the 
Reformation. The next of importance was 
the Council of Nicaea, a. d. 325, in which the 
question of the Trinity was discussed — for 
the most part by men who had suffered for 
the truth's sake in recent persecutions — and 
was determined for all time. Its monument 
is the Mcene Creed. But the question be- 
fore this Council at Jerusalem was one of 
most immediate importance, because, until 
it was settled, the Gentiles were kept wait- 
ing at the doorway of the Church. 

The first address was made by Peter. 
We have of course the merest outline; but 
sufficient is given to indicate its bold and im- 
passioned character. He began by remind- 
ing the Council how the Lord had chosen 
him "a good while, ago " to open the door to 
the Gentiles. The reference was to the day 
of Pentecost, fourteen years before, when he 

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had turned the key — the key which Christ 
had previously committed to him for that 
purpose (Matt. 16:19) — saying, ' ' The 
promise is unto you and to your children 
and to all that are afar off." (Acts 2: 14- 
39.) He then begged the Council not to put 
a ceremonial yoke upon the necks of the 
converts which neither their fathers nor 
themselves had been able to bear; and con- 
cluded with a ringing statement that the 
only condition of salvation for all alike is 
vital faith in Christ. 

Paul and Barnabas followed with an ac- 
count of their missionary journey and the 
many conversions which had occurred along 
the way. This carried its own appeal with 
it. 

Then arose James, the minister of the 
mother church. He would naturally be dis- 
posed to favor the Jews, but his address was 
in the interest of peace by mutual conces- 
sion. He began by supporting Peter's 
position as to the open door, and showed 
how the prophets had foretold it. He then, 
as the Moderator of the Council, pronounced 
his " sentence" or conclusion. This was 

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drawn up in the form of a letter to be sent to 
all the churches, as follows : 

The apostles and elders and brethren send 
greeting unto the brethren which are of the 
Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. 
Forasmuch as we have heard that certain 
which went out from us have troubled you 
with words, subverting your souls, saying. 
Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; 
to whom we gave no such commandment: it 
seemed good unto us, being assembled with 
one accord, to send chosen men unto you with 
our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that 
have hazarded their lives for the name of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore 
Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the 
same things by mouth. For it seemed good 
to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you 
no greater burden than these necessary 
things; that ye abstain from meats offered 
to idols, and from blood, and from things 
strangled: and from fornication: from 
which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. 
Fare ye well. 



32 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

In this letter we observe, first, a principle 
laid down: to wit, the great doctrine of Justi- 
fication by Faith; and second, a policy 
marked out, namely, that, so far as conces- 
sions could be made without any sacrifice of 
principle, they should be made by both sides. 
On the one hand, the Jews were to give up 
their insistence on the ceremonial law; on 
the other, the Gentiles were to refrain from 
certain practices which gave offence: (1) 
from blood — which the Jews avoid to this 
day; (2) from things strangled — because the 
blood remains in them; (3) from meats laid 
on pagan altars and subsequently offered for 
sale in the shambles — because this seemed 
to imply complicity with idol-worship ; and 
(4) from the sensual habits which were 
prevalent among all pagan nations and to 
which the Gentile converts were especially 
prone. These mutual concessions were so 
obviously reasonable that the trouble ended 
then and there. 

THE RETURN 

On the return of the missionaries to Anti- 
och a meeting was held at which the letter 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

was read and all " rejoiced for the consola- 
tion.' ' One thing had been settled, that no 
priest or ecclesiastical court was to be al- 
lowed to stand in the way of any sinner in 
his approach to Christ. 

Settled? Yes, so far as a Council could 
settle it. But the Cross is always an offence, 
and free grace has never ceased to be a 
stumbling-block to the natural man. 

As time passed the Church drifted away 
from its moorings until, in the Dark Ages, 
it was again swamped in the stagnant waters 
of priestly ceremonialism. Then came Lu- 
ther and the other reformers with a new 
proclamation of the old truth of Justifica- 
tion by Faith. They called it articulum 
ecclesice stantis aut cadentis, that is, "the 
Doctrine of a Standing or a Falling 
Church." And so it is and must continue 
to be. Moses and Elias go their way, and 
nope is left but " Jesus only." In Him 
alone we put our trust ; "Him first, Him last, 
Him midst and all in all."] 



34 



VIII 
THE SECOND JOURNEY 

Acts 15: 36-41; 16:1-10 

It would appear that Paul and Barnabas, 
on returning from their first missionary 
tour, spent about two years in Antioch, not 
only in much-needed rest but in " teaching 
and preaching" for the confirmation of their 
brethren in the faith. It was during this 
period that the First Council was held at 
Jerusalem, as we have seen. 

Another incident which subsequently oc- 
curred during the same period calls for brief 
mention: Peter came to Antioch and 
stirred up trouble. The controversy which 
attended his visit is briefly recorded in Gal. 
2:11-14: 

"But when Peter was come to Antioch I 
withstood him to the face, because he was to 
he blamed. For before that certain came 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: 
hut when they were come, he withdrew and 
separated himself, fearing them which were 
of the circumcision. And the other Jews 
dissembled likewise with him; insomuch 
that Barnabas also was carried away with 
their dissimulation. But when I saw that 
they walked not uprightly according to the 
truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before 
them all, "If thou, being a Jew, livest after 
the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the 
Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to 
live as do the JewsV 

The dispute was amicably settled, how- 
ever, in accordance with the decree of the 
Council in Jerusalem. (See Acts 15 : 22-29.) 

In the meantime the wanderlust of the 
gospel had returned to the missionaries and 
the word of the Master, "Go ye!" was ring- 
ing in their ears. It was only a few days 
after the adjustment of the dispute referred 
to that Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go 
again and visit our brethren in every city 
where we have preached the word of the 
Lord and see how they do." 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

But a serious difference arose between the 
two missionaries then and there. Barna- 
bas was resolved on having his nephew, John 
Mark, accompany them; while Paul was 
equally determined that the youth whose 
courage had failed him in the face of dan- 
ger at Pamphylia should not go. " And the 
contention was so sharp between them that 
they departed asunder. ' ' Barnabas took his 
nephew and sailed for Cyprus, while Paul 
set out in the opposite direction, both intent 
upon a recanvass of their former work. 

The new companion of Paul was Silas, 
who had been one of the deputies appointed 
by the Council to convey its decrees to the 
churches. He is characterized as "a faith- 
ful brother/' and was one of the hopeful 
guild of Singers in the Night. (Acts 
16:25.) 

They set out toward the northwest, " con- 
firming the churches' 9 by the way, until they 
reached Derbe, where the previous journey 
had ended. From there they passed on to 
Lystra, where they were joined by Timothy, 
"the gentle boy of Lystra," who was destined 
to play an important part in subsequent 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

events. Thence to Iconium; after which 
they would have turned aside into "Asia," 
a region of pagan darkness on the southwest ; 
"but they were forbidden." To the north- 
west lay Bithynia, another pagan country 
where they longed to preach the gospel, "but 
the Spirit suffered them not." Strange 
guidance this ! For some reason they must 
turn neither to the right nor to the left but 
bear straight on. 

AT TROAS 

So they came to Troas on the verge of the 
Hellespont; and there the reason of their 
strange guidance was made plain. In a 
vision Paul saw a man of Macedonia, with 
outstretched hands, calling, "Come over and 
help us!" It thus appeared that the mis- 
sionaries were to plume their wings for a 
bolder flight. Europe was before them! 
When once the Hellespont was crossed they 
would be in "the regions beyond," and a new 
impulse would be given to the enterprise 
of universal conquest. Now then, the world 
for Christ! 



38 



IX 
ON TO EUROPE 

Acts 16:11-40 

It is safe to say that, on the morning after 
his vision, Paul was early at the docks in 
Troas inquiring for the first ship sailing 
across the Hellespont. There were four who 
took passage; Paul, Silas, Timothy and 
Luke, "the good physician.' ' We know 
that Luke here joined the company because 
the narrative, of which he was the writer, 
now moves on with the pronoun "we." 
(Acts 16: 11.) 

It is worthy of note, in passing, that the 
heroes of the two great classics of Rome 
and Greece — the iEneid of Virgil and the 
Odyssey of Homer — had both embarked 
from the port of Troas ; but the momentous 
voyages of iEneas and Ulysses were not 
worthy of comparison with the great enter- 
prise which stirred the hearts of these ad- 
venturous men. 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

- 

AT PHILIPPI 

On landing at Neapolis they pushed their 
way up through the mountain roads to the 
important city of Philippi, where Paul 
hoped to meet the Macedonian who had 
beckoned and called him. In their sojourn 
here they won three trophies of grace. 

The first was Lydia, "a seller of purple." 
Her name indicates that she had come from 
a city in that same province of Pamphylia 
whither the Spirit had forbidden them to 
go. Thus, by indirection, the missionaries 
were likely to reach the object in mind. 
They met this woman, on the first Sabbath 
after their arrival, at a place set apart for 
prayer by the river-side. On hearing the 
gospel her heart was immediately opened to 
receive it. No doubt Paul was surprised to 
find that "the man" of his vision was a 
woman ; but she was a woman of wealth and 
influence whose candle was lighted to shine 
afar. The missionaries had thus far been 
satisfied with humble quarters in some lodg- 
ing house ; but Lydia now, with Oriental hos- 
pitality, threw open her home — as she had 

40 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

opened her heart — and entertained them 
during their sojourn in the city. 

The second trophy of the campaign in 
Philippi was a slave-girl, possessed of an 
evil spirit. Her owners had made capital 
of her malady by passing her off as a 
pythoness, whose incoherent utterances were 
represented to be the divinations of Apollo. 
Day after day as the missionaries proceeded 
to their work the slave girl cried after them, 
" These men are the servants of the most 
high God, which show unto us the way of 
salvation !" Little wonder that Paul was 
" grieved" on her account; and little wonder 
that he healed her! But this miracle was 
the occasion of no end of trouble. The mas- 
ters of the pythoness, seeing that "the hope 
of their gains was gone," succeeded in col- 
lecting a mob; and presently, after one of 
those scourgings with which Paul was so fa- 
miliar ("five times was I beaten with forty 
stripes save one"), he and Silas found them- 
selves in jaiL 

The third trophy of their evangelistic 
ardor was their jailer. The two mission- 
aries, cast down but not destroyed, whiled 

41 



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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

away the dreary hours of the night by sing- 
ing, probably one of the Hillel Psalms with 
the refrain, "Oh that men would praise the 
Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful 
works to the children of men!" Then on a 
sudden the earth began to tremble and the 
prisoners' chains were loosed! 

The jailer awoke, and supposing that his 
wards— for whose safeguarding he was re- 
sponsible with his life — had escaped, would 
have killed himself; just as nowadays a Jap- 
anese jailer would commit hari-kari under 
like circumstances, But Paul cried, "Do 
thyself no harm! "We are all here!" 
Whereupon the man, who had probably 
heard Paul's message, cried out under sud- 
den conviction, "Sirs, what must I do to be 
saved?" There could be only one answer: 
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!" That 
done, the rest would be plain sailing. The 
jailer fell in with the overtures of divine 
mercy and became a Christian. 

Here were three wonderful trophies to 
show for the campaign at Philippi. And 
who shall say how many were saved through 
them? 

42 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

We now observe Paul in a different light. 
Thus far he had pursued his work as a most 
humble man. But when the magistrates, 
on learning that Paul was a Roman citizen 
and had been scourged without due process 
of law, sent messengers to say, "Let those 
men go," those men refused to go. "Nay, 
verily," said Paul. "They have beaten us 
openly, uncondemned, being Romans, and 
have cast us into prison; and now do they 
thrust us out privily? Nay, verily; but let 
them come themselves and fetch us out!" 
Thus he stood squarely upon his rights. 
But when anything was to be gained by do- 
ing so, we shall find that he and his com- 
panions were ever willing to lay down all 
their rights that men might walk over them 
into the kingdom of God. 



43 



AT THESSALONICA 

Acts 17 : 1-9 

On being driven out of Philippi the band 
of missionaries turned their faces toward 
the west. " Westward the course of Empire 
takes its way. ' ' A journey of seventy miles 
— passing through the unimportant towns 
of Amphipolis and Appolonia — brought 
them to Thessalonica ; and there, in the hos- 
pitable home of Jason, they tarried for sev- 
eral months. 

Why were they attracted to Thessalonica ? 
First, because it was a populous place and in 
many respects the most important city in 
that portion of the world. Second, because 
there was a considerable number of Jews 
there, whose religion furnished a foundation 
for the preaching of the Messianic claims 
of Jesus. Third, because it was the center 
of the weaving industry; where Paul the 

44 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

tent-maker would be likely to find work. 
(1 Thess. 2:9.) Fourth, because it was a 
coign of vantage for an enterprise that was 
intended and expected to radiate far and 
wide. 

To-day Salonica is the second city of Tur- 
key in Europe. In the World's War the 
troops of the Entente Alliance were landed 
there to advance upon the enemy on the east- 
ern front. 

On three successive Sabbaths the mission- 
aries preached in the synagogue, 1 reasoning 
from the Scriptures that "this Jesus is the 
Christ," and with the usual result. Many 
of the Hellenes, i. e., Judaized pagans, were 
converted; but the Jews themselves were 
"slow of heart to believe all that the 
prophets had spoken." Then, as their cus- 
tom was, the missionaries left the synagogue 
and turned to the Gentiles, enough of whom 
were converted to form the nucleus of an 
important church. 

It was too much to expect, however, that 
they would be allowed to continue in this 

i There are thirty- six synagogues in the modern city of 
Salonica. 

45 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

way. The Jews succeeded in persuading 
certain "lewd fellows of the baser sort" — 
the lazzaroni or "idlers of the forum" — to 
drive them out. A mob stormed the house 
of Jason, and, not finding the missionaries, 
carried him and his associates before the 
magistrates, who, perceiving no ground of 
action, bound them over to keep the peace 
and let them go. 

All of which suggests a number of things. 

First, the gospel never changes. A con- 
verted Jew in charge of a mission among 
his countrymen tells me that his work is pre- 
cisely along the lines marked out by Paul, 
"opening and alleging from the Scriptures 
that this Jesus is the Christ." 

Second, the opposition never changes. 
The Christians of Armenia are persecuted 
and massacred by the Turks on the pretext 
that they are turning things "upside down" 
by their insistence on the supremacy of 
Christ. 

Third, the assurance of success never 
changes. Paul and his companions may 
have counted their labor as water poured 
upon the ground ; but ten years later, in a 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

letter written to the church in Thessalonica, 
he says, "From' you sounded out the word 
of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and 
Achaia; but also in every place your faith 
to Godward is spread abroad.' ' The faith 
to Godward of these Christians was no light 
hid under a bushel: it " sounded forth" like 
the blast of a trumpet before the chariot of 
an advancing king; it "went forth" like the 
shout of an army following after him. 

Let all the Lord's workers be of good 
cheer; the seed-sowing is never in vain, 
though oftentimes the harvest ripens on 
their graves. The promise is yea and amen : 
"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing 
precious seed, shall doubtless" (not may but 
shall; not perhaps but doubtless) "come 
again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves 
with him," 



47 



XI 

AT BERCEA 

Acts 17 : 10-14 

On leaving Thessalonica, under cover of 
the night, Paul turned his face toward the 
southwest; and after a journey of sixty 
miles came to Beroea. This was a city of no 
special importance except for the fact that 
it lay on a slope of the Olympian range and 
was supposed to be under the special care 
of the twelve gods. 

The Jews of Beroea are characterized as 
"more noble than those of Thessalonica" be- 
cause "they received the word with readi- 
ness of mind." This is a Title of Nobility 
which is open to all. "A king can mak' a 
belted knight, a marquis, duke an' a' that"; 
but only God can admit a man into the Peer- 
age of Truth. 

(1) It is said of these Beroeans, to their 
credit, that "they searched the Scriptures 
daily, whether those things were so" 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

By this we are given to understand, on the 
one hand, that they believed in the Scrip- 
tures as the infallible test and standard of 
truth. As to their inspiration, this was not 
an open but a closed question, having been 
settled by and for these converts when they 
entered into covenant with God. 

The reason why many of the church mem- 
bers of our time are oppressed with doubts 
as to the fundamentals of the gospel is be- 
cause they are not fully persuaded in their 
own minds that the Bible can be trusted ; a 
point which should have been determined 
at the very outset of their Christian life. 

On the other hand, it appears that when 
Paul presented some unusually startling 
propositions, they did not take himat his 
word, but " searched the Scriptures" to see 
whether these things were so. 

What a lot of perplexity would be avoided 
if the Christians of our time were to treat 
current problems in the same way. The 
trouble is that, in many cases, the original 
question as to the trustworthiness of Scrip- 
ture is still undetermined, so that they have 
nothing to go by. Instead of applying the 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

divine touchstone to their doubts, they must 
needs be forever investigating the reliability 
of the touchstone itself. 

In many of our so-called " Bible classes' ' 
the pupils are instructed about the Bible and 
not in it. They are like prospectors who 
go about searching for a gold-field, rather 
than like miners who, having found a gold- 
field, are engaged in getting the gold out 
of it. 

(2) We are advised, from the example of 
the Berceans, as to the right method of 
searching the Scriptures. 

There are some who read the Bible for no 
other purpose, apparently, than to criticise 
it. This is the case with many who call 
themselves " Biblical experts' 9 ; they ap- 
proach the Book with an ill-disguised preju- 
dice against it. Of course, under such cir- 
cumstances, they find errors and discrepan- 
cies where none are visible to unbiased eyes. 

There are others who study the Bible to 
confirm their own opinions. These are 
eisegetes, reading their own views into the 
Book instead of getting their doctrine out 
of it, as devout exegetes are wont to do. 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

Others still are moved to search the Scrip- 
tures by a sincere desire to discover the 
truth. In order to succeed in this quarter 
there must be, first, a readiness to learn what 
God has to say about the matter in hand, 
and, second, a personal independence which 
takes no man's word for it. The Beroeans 
were to be praised for declining to accept 
Paul's statements on his own recognizance 
until they had applied the touchstone. No 
man's ipse dixit is final, whether in the pul- 
pit or out of it. Nothing is conclusive but 
the Word of God. 

(3) What was the result ? The Beroeans 
came to the conclusion that Paul's postulate, 
"This Jesus is the Christ," was true to their 
Oracles ; and therefore they accepted it. 

Thus they found Christ, as it is written, 
"Therefore many of them believed." And, 
finding Christ, they found life also; as he 
himself had said, "Search the Scriptures; 
for in them ye think (and rightly think) 
ye have eternal life; and these are they 
which testify of me." 

Here we leave the Beroeans. The preach- 
ing of Paul might have gone on indefinitely 

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but for mischief-makers who came over from 
Thessalonica and created a disturbance. 
With a due regard for discretion as the bet- 
ter part of valor, he took his departure to 
larger fields. The pagan world was before 
him — Athens, Corinth and the regions be- 
yond! Still " Westward the course of Em- 
pire takes its way." 



52 



XII 

AT ATHENS 

Acts 17:15-34 

On being expelled from Beroea the apostle 
went down to the nearest seaport and took 
ship for Athens. A three days' voyage car- 
ried him past some of the most memorable 
scenes in history, such as Thermopylae, where 
Leonidas and his three hundred died for 
freedom, and Marathon, where Themistocles 
drove back the Persian invasion. But 
Paul's interest lay further on. 

Landing at Piraeus, he at once proceeded 
to Athens, "the eye of Greece, mother of 
arts and eloquence. ' ' 

Standing alone in the market-place he saw 
a city "wholly given to idolatry.' ' There 
were statues of the gods on every hand; 
colonnades of gods; "more gods than men." 
On looking down the street of Hermes he 
saw a winged figure of the Olympian herald 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

in front of every home; if he looked along 
the Avenue of Tripods, he would see an un- 
broken line of altars and statues, with votive 
offerings presented by grateful athletes 
whom the gods had helped in the Isthmian 
games. Gods everywhere! Gods on ped- 
estals, in niches, on the corners of the 
streets; gods and demigods; good, bad and 
indifferent — a wilderness of gods ! No won- 
der the devout soul of the missionary was 
stirred within him. 

He began his work at once, " disputing in 
the synagogue with the Jews, and in the 
Agora daily with them that met with him." 
There was no difficulty in getting an audi- 
ence ; for Athens was proverbially the para- 
dise of gossips and saunterers. Its shib- 
boleth was, " What's the news?" So they 
gathered about him, men and women, priests 
and philosophers, all sorts and conditions of 
people. And he spoke to them of Jesus and 
the Resurrection, or as the Greeks had it, 
" Jesus and Anastasis," whom they sup- 
posed to be a pair of new deities. He who 
introduced a god into Athens was counted a 
public benefactor. The interest of his audi- 

54 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

ence was thus enlisted at once. Presently 
they said, "Let us go to Areopagus for a bet- 
ter hearing. " So to the Hill of Mars they 
went ; and the apostle there preached a ser- 
mon which has come ringing down the ages. 

OBSERVE THE PREACHER 

A little man, stoop-shouldered, weak-eyed 
and a stammerer; but it did not take the 
Athenians long to discover that here was no 
ordinary man. 

OBSERVE THE PULPIT 

A fateful place. Many a culprit had been 
there devoted to death. On this platform 
Demosthenes had stood and uttered "breath- 
ing thoughts in burning words. " Here Soc- 
rates had made his apology and was con- 
demned to drink the fatal hemlock. On a 
shelf of rock near by stood the Temple of 
the Furies ; and above it towered the Temple 
of Mars. To this place Paul brought such 
"news" as these newsmongers had never 
heard before. He spoke as an ambassador 
from the court of heaven, bringing a mes- 
sage of peace to troubled souls. 

55 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 
OBSERVE THE AUDIENCE 

Not a few of Paul's hearers had the names 
of their deities worn as frontlets between 
their eyes. Here were philosophers also and 
students in classic robes, representing all the 
various schools by the Ilissus. Some were 
Stoics; i. e., pantheists, who spoke of God as 
"the universal soul/' and of man as an ex- 
halation whose destiny was to be absorbed 
presently in the all-pervading Spirit of the 
Universe, as a drop of water disappears in a 
boundless sea. Others were Epicureans, 
materialists, who said "Death ends all." 
And, inasmuch as life was circumscribed by 
the narrow horizons of time and sense, what 
better could they do than make the most of 
the passing hour? Their aphorism was, 
"Let us eat, drink and be merry; for to- 
morrow we die." Others were Academ- 
icians, practical agnostics, whose sugges- 
tions were all prefaced with a perhaps or 
it-may-be-so. And besides these there was 
the usual throng of curiosity-mongers and 
hangers-on. To the mind of the great Mis- 

56 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

sionary all these were souls, precious in the 
sight of God. 

OBSERVE THE SERMON 

Its exordium was most felicitous. Tak- 
ing for his text the inscription upon an altar 
which he had observed in the market-place, 
"To an Unknown God," he began by say- 
ing, "Ye men of Athens, in all things I per- 
ceive that ye are very religious." It was a 
clever compliment and gained him their 
good-will. His proposition was announced 
in these terms: "This unknown God de- 
clare I unto you." He then proceeded to 
show how God, so far from being really un- 
known, had unveiled himself in many ways : 
first, in creation; he "made the world and 
all things therein": second, in providence; 
"In him we live and move and have our be- 
ing": and third, in grace; "By that Man 
whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath 
given assurance unto all men in that he 
raised him from the dead." At this point 
the speaker was interrupted and the assem- 
bly was broken up. 

57 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 
OBSERVE THE RESULT 

There were some who mocked ; others who 
said, "We will hear thee again " (but they 
probably never did) , and a few who believed. 
Among these were Dionysius, a member of 
the Court of Areopagus, and a woman named 
Damaris, of whom we hear no more. 

But Paul's sermon on Mars Hill was not 
in vain; for thus saith the Lord, "As the 
rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, 
and returneth not thither, but watereth the 
earth and maketh it bring forth and bud, 
that it may give seed to the sower and bread 
to the eater, so shall my word be that goeth 
forth out of my mouth; it shall not return 
unto me void, but it shall accomplish that 
which I please, and it shall prosper in the 
thing whereto I sent it." 



58 



XIII 
AT CORINTH 

Acts 18 : 1-22 

All that now remains of Corinth is a con- 
fused mass of ruins. At the time of Paul's 
visit it vied with Athens in renown : but they 
were very different cities. Athens was 
learned and aristocratic; Corinth was com- 
mercial and democratic. Its two ports, Cen- 
chresB on the east and Lechaeum on the west, 
invited the commerce of the world. Its 
magnificent places of amusement made it the 
most popular of summer resorts. Its Tem- 
ple of Venus (where no less than a thousand 
so-called " priestesses" were consecrated to 
open sensuality) with innumerable shrines 
of other gods, threw over its nameless vices 
the glamour of religion. To speak of a 
woman as "a Corinthian" was equivalent to 
calling her a courtesan. To say that a young 
man was "living in Corinth" was to affirm 
that he was recklessly sowing his wild oats. 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

It was a busy, wealthy, populous, pleasure- 
loving, splendid, wicked city. 

Paul was alone when he came to Corinth, 
having left his three companions — Luke, 
Silas and Timothy — to look after the con- 
verts in Philippi, Thessalonica and Beroea. 
He began his work, as usual, by preaching in 
the synagogue, "and persuaded the Jews and 
the Greeks." When Silas and Timothy 
joined him he had added impetus; he was 
"pressed in the spirit, and testified to the 
Jews that Jesus was Christ." As usual the 
Jews refused to hear him. He then ' ' turned 
to the Gentiles": and continued his labors 
among them a year and a half, organizing 
the converts into one of the strongest and 
most faithful of the early churches. 

Among the first of these converts were 
Aquila and Priscilla, a man and his wife 
who, having been driven out of Rome by 
the decree of Claudius against the Jews, had 
come to Corinth and set up a tent-maker's 
shop. Paul found employment here and, 
while engaged at his trade, converted his em- 
ployers to Christ. In after years they were 
among his most devoted friends. 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

Another of the early converts of this cam- 
paign was Crispus, the ruler of the syna- 
gogue, who of course lost his position when 
he accepted Christ. He and his family were 
among the few whom Paul himself baptized ; 
this sacrament being usually committed to 
other hands, perhaps because of his physi- 
cal infirmities. (See 1 Cor. 1: 14-17.) 

Another of the Corinthian converts was 
Gaius, probably a man of considerable 
wealth and distinction; whom Paul calls 
"my host," from which we may infer that 
the apostle made his home with him. (Ro- 
mans 16: 23.) 

Another was a certain Justus, "whose 
house joined hard to the synagogue. " When 
the synagogue was closed to the preaching 
of the gospel, the home of Justus was thrown 
open to the followers of Christ; and the 
Corinthian church, which was destined to 
play so important a part in history, was 
organized there. 

Another of Paul's personal friends was 
Sosthenes, who had succeeded Crispus when 
the latter was deposed as ruler of the syna- 
gogue. Paul speaks of him affectionately 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

as "our brother. " (1 Cor. 1 : 1.) It would 
appear that he subsequently served as the 
apostle's scribe or amanuensis, a helper 
greatly needed by Paul on account of his 
weak eyes. 

There were many other Corinthian stars 
in Paul's crown of rejoicing, some of whom 
are mentioned, all of whom are recorded in 
the heavenly Book of Remembrance. In 
one of his darkest hours of spiritual depres- 
sion — for Paul was a man of like passions 
with other men and there were many dis- 
couragements in his lonely work — he had a 
vision in which the Lord comforted him by 
saying, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold 
not thy peace ; for I am with thee, . . . for 
I have much people in this city. " By which 
he was given to understand that his work 
was not to be measured by its visible fruits. 
"The Lord knoweth them that are his." 
Who can count the "hidden ones"? 

An attempt was made by the Jews to break 
up Paul's work, by bringing against him 
the charge, "This fellow persuadeth men to 
worship God contrary to the law," i.e., con- 

62 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

trary to the Jewish law. Fortunately the 
case came before a brother of Seneca, known 
as "the amiable Gallio," who at this time 
was Proconsul of Achaia. As a Roman 
magistrate he very properly declined to pass 
upon a purely religious question and threw 
the matter out of court. 

The church at Corinth being organized 
and well under way, Paul "took leave of the 
brethren " and set sail for home. By the 
way he tarried at Ephesus and at Jerusalem 
— where he had a vow to fulfill — and at 
Caesarea ; and then on to Antioch, the center 
of operations, to report the blessed results 
of his Second Missionary Journey. It was, 
doubtless, a happy "hame-bringing," accom- 
panied with much thanksgiving for the good- 
ness of God. 

How little did the wealthy, worldly, pleas- 
ure-loving, idol-worshiping people of Cor- 
inth suspect that their city would find its 
most enduring fame through the patient, 
difficult, inconspicuous work of Paul ! Who 
would have imagined that its most distin- 
guished citizen, the Proconsul Gallio, would 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

best be remembered by bis association with 
"the ugly little Jew"! 1 Here is comfort 
for all humble workmen. 

"Toil on; in hope o'ercome 

The steeps God set for thee ; 
For past the Alpine summits of great toil 
Lieth thine Italy !" 



i So Renan calls Paul. 

64 



XIV 

THE THIRD JOURNEY 

Acts 18 : 23-28 ; 19 : 1-41 \ 20 : 1 

On reaching Antioch in Syria, at tlie close 
of his second journey, Paul settled down for 
"some time," probably the greater part of a 
year. Then the wanderlust of missions 
again took possession of him ; and he set out 
to revisit and "strengthen" the churches. 

"All the country of Galatia and Phrygia," 
being familiar ground, was passed over as 
rapidly as possible and without note. The 
great city of Ephesus was the first objective 
point ; after which Paul proposed to push on 
to Corinth, thence to Jerusalem, and after 
that to Rome. Always to Rome ! 

AT EPHESUS 

But events so shaped themselves, and so 
great were the demands of the people of 
Ephesus, that on reaching that city he was 

65 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

constrained to remain there three whole 
years. 

I. It will be remembered that on the re- 
turn from his second missionary journey he 
had brought with him the tent-makers 
Aquila and Priscilla, whom he left at Ephe- 
sus. (Acts 18:19.) These faithful work- 
ers had not been idle there; but by a quiet 
ministry had been arranging a full " prepar- 
edness" for Paul's arrival. 

II. The presence of Apollos in Ephesus 
had contributed to the same end. He is 
spoken of as "a Jew of Alexandria, an elo- 
quent man and mighty in the Scrip tures." 
The fact that he came from Alexandria, the 
city of the great library and of the Septua- 
gint, is an intimation that he was a learned 
man. His familiarity with the Scriptures 
shows that he was a loyal Jew. The further 
statement that he " taught diligently the 
things of the Lord" makes it clear that he 
had at least accepted the Messiahship of 
Jesus; and, being " fervent in spirit," he 
was doing his utmost to persuade others to 
believe in it. 

But as yet he was inadequately equipped 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

for his work, "knowing only the baptism of 
John." He had learned much of Jesus at 
second hand ; but of his real teaching, of the 
true significance of the Cross, and particu- 
larly as to the reality and personality of the 
Holy Spirit, he had little or no information. 

At this juncture Aquila and Priscilla came 
to the rescue. "They expounded unto him 
the way of God more perfectly. ' ' A curious 
conjunction, this ; the learned Apollos sitting 
at the feet of two tent-makers! Was there 
ever a stranger theological seminary than 
this in the house of Aquila and Priscilla? 
But even they could not fully instruct him 
in the way. They could help him to move 
on from the baptism of John the Baptist, 
which was only unto repentance, into the 
baptism of Jesus, which was unto the fulness 
of life ; but they were incompetent to advise 
him as to the miracle of Pentecost and its 
wonderful significance. Poor Apollos! It 
is a hard business for one who has not made 
the acquaintance of the Holy Spirit to "run 
up the heavenly way." 

III. This, then, was the state of affairs 
when Paul arrived in Ephesus. Apollos 

€7 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

was not there to greet him, having gone on 
to Corinth with credentials from his Ephe- 
sian friends; and he was now engaged in 
" helping believers and convincing the 
Jews" of that city: but he had left behind 
him in Ephesus a little group of earnest 
seekers after truth. 

Paul at once entered the synagogue after 
his usual custom, and for three months con- 
tinued to " speak boldly," " disputing and 
persuading the things concerning the king- 
dom of God": and of course with the usual 
result. 

On being expelled from the synagogue he 
entered the School of Tyrannus — possibly a 
philosopher who had lost his following — 
where he made his headquarters for two 
years or more. During this time three inci- 
dents of special note occurred. 

First, Paul met the followers of Apollos, 
twelve men in particular, of whom he asked, 
"Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye 
believed ! ' ' They answered (not, ' i We have 
not so much as heard whether there be any 
Holy Ghost," but), "Nay, we did not so 
much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

given." Whereupon Paul told them how 
Christ's promise had been fulfilled on the 
Day of Pentecost. And when they con- 
fessed that they had only received John's 
baptism unto repentance, he baptized them 
"in the name of the Lord Jesus," with the 
baptism of fire and power. 

Second, the great bonfire. The supersti- 
tious use of the name of Jesus by the seven 
Sons of Sceva, for the healing of demoni- 
acal possession, led to a general revolt among 
the Christians against all sorts of f etichism ; 
so that charms and cabalistic letters of every 
sort were brought together and burned up. 
If all our fetiches were thus disposed of — 
such as rosaries and crooked sixpences and 
broad phylacteries and foolish dreads of 
thirteen and Friday and the like — what a 
bonfire there would be ! 

Third, the riot, led by Demetrius the sil- 
versmith. Paul's preaching against the 
worship of idols had so reduced the sale of 
shrines and images that great Diana, the 
tutelary goddess of Ephesus, was being set 
at naught- The craftsmen, whose business 
was seriously affected, stirred up the popu- 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

lace; and Paul and his companions might 
have fared badly indeed but for the tactful 
management of the town-clerk in dispersing 
the mob. 

It was at length apparent to Paul that the 
time had arrived to move on: so "he called 
unto him the disciples, and embraced them, 
and departed/ 9 He had already dispatched 
Timothy and Erastus to Corinth to prepare 
the wav before him. On to Thessalonica, to 
Bercea, to Athens, to Rome. Always to 
Rome, the center of the world! He must 
preach the gospel at Rome ! 



70 



XV 
A BUSY YEAR— A. D. 57 

Acts 20 : 1-12 

At the close of Paul's three eventful years 
in Ephesus, "the uproar having ceased/ ' he 
resumed his journey: leaving Timothy be- 
hind him to look after the welfare of the 
Christians in that city. (1 Tim. 1:3.) 

He went afoot to Troas, probably canvass- 
ing en route the Seven Churches of Asia. 
He had been hoping that Titus would join 
him at Troas ; but being disappointed in this, 
he pressed on alone, "exhorting 9 ' by the way. 
(2 Cor. 2:12,13.) 

On reaching Macedonia he revisited the 
churches of Philippi, Thessalonica and Be- 
rcea, meanwhile reaching out into other un- 
evangelized towns and villages. Not satis- 
fied with this he pushed on into the regions 
beyond, going "round about unto Illyri- 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

cum/' 1 the mountainous country on the 
eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. 

It is characteristic of Paul that he should 
have passed over this important and danger- 
ous itinerary with so slight mention. Who 
knows what wonders were wrought, what 
seed-sowing for future harvest, by this 
" roundabout " tour? "The day shall de- 
clare it." (Romans 15 : 19; 1 Cor. 3 : 13.) 

He then turned southward into Greece, 
and on reaching Corinth was comforted by 
the arrival of his beloved Titus. (2 Cor. 
7 : 6, 7.) While there, for a period of three 
months, he not only preached and ministered 
to the disciples but found time to write the 
Epistle to the Komans, which was sent by 
the hand of the deaconess Phoebe, as a cir- 
cular letter to the Gentile churches. 

It was now his purpose to sail for Syria, 
accompanied by seven chosen helpers; 
namely, Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, 
Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus; 
a noble band. But "man proposes, God dis- 
poses." A plot was discovered against the 

i Illyricum embraced the modern countries of Bosnia, 
Croatia and Dalmatia. 

72 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

life of Paul which made it necessary for the 
seven to sail without him, the understanding 
being that he would rejoin them at Troas. 

So Paul, alone and afoot, turned his face 
toward the north and came roundabout to 
Philippi, where he was in time to join his 
friends in the keeping of the Passover; a 
feast which had a peculiar significance for 
the early Christians by reason of its close 
association with the Lord 's Supper. (1 Cor. 
5: 7, 8.) At this point Paul's comfort and 
happiness were greatly enhanced by meet- 
ing Luke, his physician and devoted friend, 
who had been left in charge of the Philippian 
church and whose connection with the nar- 
rative is still indicated by the occurrence of 
the familiar ' ' we. ' ' 

After the celebration of the feast, Luke 
says, "we sailed away from Philippi, " and 
came "to Troas." The voyage took five 
days, twice the usual time, by reason of the 
equinoctial winds. On their arrival they 
met the seven missionaries with many others 
and remained seven days. On the evening 
of the first day of the week (note the observ- 
ance of the First Day as the Christian Sab- 

73 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

bath), when the church was assembled for 
worship, Paul preached until midnight. 
The room was crowded, the air was bad (ow- 
ing to "many lights")? and the sermon was 
long: wherefore it is not surprising that a 
youth named Eutychus should have gone to 
the window ledge for a breath of fresh air. 
Overcome by faintness and drowsiness, he 
fell into the street and was taken up dead; 
whereupon Paul restored him to life. The 
meeting then continued until the break of 
day. 

The band of missionaries took ship the 
next morning; but again they left Paul be- 
hind them. For some reason he preferred 
to go afoot and by himself, agreeing to rejoin 
his companions at Assos, a port of entry 
twenty miles south. Here with his staff in 
hand on the lonely road we leave him. 

A busy year, indeed. Paul was a born 
itinerant : and how wonderfully he made his 
itineraries tell for the glory of God! He 
was engaged all this year in doing three 
things : 

First, "Exhorting." The Greek here 
means "calling near with much discourse." 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

Paul was always persuading the unconverted 
to come to Christ and Christians to come 
nearer. This was his conception of preach- 
ing. There are many unsuccessful preach- 
ers who would do well to adopt it. 

Second, writing to the churches. Two 
certainly and probably more of his epistles 
were composed during this year. How did 
he find time for this ? Where was his leisure 
for study? The answer is that time and 
leisure are always given in sufficiency to 
those who plan great things for God. 

Third, " Collecting for the saints." It 
was in Paul's mind, when projecting this 
journey, to canvass the Gentile churches for 
another offering in behalf of the famine- 
stricken Christians at Jerusalem. This help 
was in due time received by the mother 
church with many thanks; and it served as 
an effective bond of union between the Jew- 
ish and Gentile followers of Christ. 

So did the great Missionary employ his 
time and energy for Christ. In that very 
year the Roman general Suetonius was push- 
ing his conquests in Britain. Who would 
have predicted that Paul would survive Sue- 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

tonius even in the world's esteem? Yet so 
it is. The reason? Paul had set his heart 
upon the noblest and best, saying, "The love 
of Christ constraineth me." 

Paul, like Suetonius, was dreaming of con- 
quest, but of another sort. In his Epistle to 
the Romans (15: 20-33) he says, "Whenso- 
ever I take my journey into Spain I will 
come to you." He meant to reach Spain — 
the end of the world by "the Pillars of 
Hercules" — pausing at Rome on the way! 
What if he did fail of that far-distant goal ? 
It is the dreamers of dreams and the seers 
of visions who ever accomplish great things 
for God. 



76 



XVI 

AT MILETUS 

Acts 20: 13-38 
FAREWELL TO OLD FRIENDS 

The group of missionaries, as we have 
seen, sailed from Troas without Paul; the 
understanding being that he would rejoin 
them at Assos. He set out, accordingly, 
alone and afoot — perhaps because he longed 
to be by himself for prayer and meditation — 
and after a journey of twenty miles reached 
Assos, where the ship with his friends was 
awaiting him. The voyage was close in- 
shore and cautiously slow on account of the 
equinoctial winds. 

No stop was made at Ephesus, because 
Paul wished to be at Jerusalem in time for 
the Feast of Pentecost. The ship touched, 
however, at Miletus ; which was near enough 
for the elders of the Ephesian church to 
come, at the summons of the great apostle, 
to hold a farewell interview with him, 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

The most notable of the ruins of this an- 
cient city of Miletus are the standing col- 
umns of a pagan temple and the well-pre- 
served circle of an amphitheater once 
thronged by the pleasure-seekers of Ephesus. 
But never did that imposing place witness so 
memorable an assembly as now knelt upon 
the shore under the open sky. 

The address of Paul began with a touching 
review of his faithful ministry among them : 
M Ye know how I was with you, in all humil- 
ity and with many tears ; how I taught you 
publicly and from house to house; how I 
kept nothing back, but declared unto you the 
whole counsel of God." Then a brief refer- 
ence to the future: "I go bound in the 
spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the 
things that shall befall me there, save that 
the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, say- 
ing that bonds and afflictions abide me. But 
none of these things move me, neither count 
I my life dear unto myself, so that I might 
finish my course with joy, and the ministry 
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to 
testify the gospel of the grace of God." 

Five years later we shall see him still 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

confronting the future with unfaltering 
faith and courage, saying, " Brethren, I 
count not myself to have apprehended : but 
this one thing I do, forgetting those things 
which are behind, and reaching forth unto 
those things which are before, I press toward 
the mark for the prize of the high calling of 
God in Christ Jesus.' ' 

Ten years later still we shall find him in 
the Mammertine jail, listening for the foot- 
fall of his executioner and saying, ' ' I am now 
ready to be offered, and the time of my de- 
parture is at hand. I have fought a good 
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept 
the faith : henceforth there is laid up for me 
a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the 
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: 
and not to me only, but unto all them also 
that love his appearing." 

Wonderful faith! Splendid courage! 
Noble ambition; to " finish his course with 

joy"! 

He then, in his address, turned from him- 
self to the needs of his Christian friends. 
Hear his ominous words: "I know this, 
that after my departing shall grievous 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

wolves enter in among you, not sparing the 
flock. Also of your own selves shall men 
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw 
away disciples after them." Wolves! 
Wolves! He was not thinking of persecu- 
tion. He assumed that as a matter of 
course; and took it for granted that the 
elders of Ephesus would be prepared to meet 
it. But wolves in sheep's clothing! Some 
"of your own selves"! Men in canonicals 
and bound by ordination vows ! 

Then followed a two-fold warning. 

First, "take heed to yourselves!" For 
doubtless they were inwardly asking, like 
the disciples in the upper room, "Is it I?" 
Paul himself was not overconfident of his 
own strength, else why should he say, "Lest 
when I have preached to others, I myself 
should be a castaway" f (1 Cor. 9 : 26,* 27.) 
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth 
take heed lest he fall. 

Second, "Take heed to all the flock, over 
the which the Holy Ghost hath made you 
overseers, to feed the church of God which 
he hath purchased with his own blood." 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

Observe, lie does not say, "Make food for 
the flock/' as some of us ministers would 
seem to interpret it. The food is adequately 
provided in the Word of God ; our business 
is simply to administer it. Wherefore all 
true sermons are expository. The mere 
opinion of a surpliced clergyman is of no 
more value than the ipse dixit of other men. 
People come to church not to hear what the 
preacher has to say about the great prob- 
lems of life and immortality, but to hear 
what God has to say through him. Our 
function, accordingly, is not to manufacture 
truth and ethics, but to feed the flock with 
what has been divinely provided, and to 
"keep nothing back," but "declare the whole 
counsel of God." 

This two-fold admonition is followed by a 
recital of certain words of Christ which are 
recorded nowhere else in Scripture: "Re- 
member the words of the Lord Jesus, how 
he said, It is more blessed to give than to 
receive. ' ' Thanks to Paul for this authentic 
quotation. It stands as a monograph of the 
wonderful life of Him who came not to be 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

ministered unto but to minister, and marks 
out the path of usefulness for all who follow 
Him. 

The meeting closed with prayer. "He 
kneeled down and prayed with them all." 
Would that the words of that prayer had 
been left us. Of this, however, we may be 
sure; it is preserved in those "golden vials 
of odors" with which the four-and -twenty 
elders minister in the services of the Heav- 
enly City. (Rev. 5:8.) 

The elders have now gathered about Paul 
to say farewell. They are weeping, "most 
of all for the words which he spake, that 
they should see his face no more." Fare- 
well! 

The moorings are loosed ; the ship is under 
way. "The best of friends must part"? 
Nay, Paul and the elders must indeed part, 
but not Christ and his true friends. For has 
he not said, "I will not leave you; lo, I am 
with you alway, even unto the end"? 

6 i I could not live apart from Him ; 
I love to feel Him nigh ; 
And so we dwell together, 
My Lord and X" 

82 



XVII 
BOUND FOR JERUSALEM 

Acts 21, 22, 23 : 1-22 

The ship on which the missionary band 
left Miletus made "a straight course'' to the 
southeast, touching only for necessary sup- 
plies and for unlading at ports along the 
way. 

AT TYRE 

The first stop of any importance was at 
Tyre, which would probably be reached on 
the sixth day. Here there was a delay of a 
whole week, which Paul and his companions 
put to profitable use. The Christians there 
— some of them possibly dating their con- 
version from the time when Jesus made his 
foreign missionary tour in that region 
(Matt. 15:21) — were at once assembled to 
hear what their distinguished visitors had 
to say. 

It was a blessed week of fellowship, but 

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most trying to Paul, who was earnestly en- 
treated not to persist in going to Jerusalem. 
Tears and entreaties, however, were of no 
avail. Finding him immovable in his pur- 
pose, Luke says, "They all brought us on 
our way, with wives and children, till we 
were out of the city." Then, as at Miletus, 
" we kneeled down on the shore and prayed. " 
Again, farewell ! 

AT PTOLEMAIS 

The ship touched at Ptolemais (familiarly 
known to students of the Crusades as Acre) 
for a single day: just long enough to "salute 
the brethren" and say good-by. The rest of 
the journey to Caesarea was overland, about 
forty miles. 

AT C^SAREA 

Paul and his companions on their arrival 
here were met by the brethren, among whom 
was Philip the Evangelist, one of the orig- 
inal seven deacons, who had been driven out 
of Jerusalem thirty years before by the per- 
secuting Jews. In his hospitable home Paul 
was entertained "many days." There were 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

four unmarried daughters in the family, 
who had devoted their lives to " prophesy- 
ing/' the word being used broadly to signify 
the teaching of religious truth. What an 
oasis in the itinerant life of the busy apostle 
these "many days" in a happy home must 
have been ! 

While he was there a divinely called and 
equipped teacher named Agabus came down 
from Jerusalem to warn him against his pro- 
jected visit to that city. He dramatically 
took off Paul's girdle and bound it about his 
own hands and feet, saying, "So shall the 
Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that own- 
eth this girdle!" Whereupon, says Luke, 
"He and they of that place besought him not 
to go." But their entreaties were of no 
avail. Paul answered, "What mean ye to 
weep and to break my heart? For I am 
ready not to be bound only, but also to die 
at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord 
Jesus." And when he would not be per- 
suaded, they ceased, saying, "The will of the 
Lord be done." 

So the devoted band took up their luggage 
and went on, like Christ himself on his last 

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fateful journey to Jerusalem, their faces 
"set steadfastly to go." They were accom- 
panied out of Caesarea by a bodyguard of 
Christians, among them an old disciple 
named Mnason, of whom we shall presently 
hear more. Little did Paul dream what a 
different escort he would have when he 
should next return to this fateful city! 

AT JERUSALEM 

On reaching Jerusalem the missionaries 
were "gladly received" by the brethren of 
the mother church. Paul was happily en- 
tertained in the home of the aged Mnason. 
He was now among the familiar scenes of his 
boyhood. No doubt he met many of his for- 
mer Jewish friends, some of whom would 
recall their association with him at Gama- 
liel's school; others who had known him of- 
ficially in the Sanhedrin in what they would 
have called his palmier days. 

On the morrow after his arrival a meet- 
ing of the "official board" of the church was 
called, at which James the pastor and his 
elders were "all present." Paul told them 
the story of his missionary journeys thus 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

far and of their rich ingathering of souls. 
But these Jewish Christians were in no mood 
to rejoice with him. There was trouble in 
the air. 

"Thou seest, brother/' said James, "how 
many among us are zealous for the Jewish 
law. It is rumored that thou hast been 
teaching the Gentile converts that it is not 
necessary for them to observe that law. 
When thy presence in the city is spread 
abroad, take heed! We have this to sug- 
gest : here are f oup men who are discharging 
a vow: go up to the Temple, remain with 
these votaries during the ceremonial rites 
and pay their charges. This will disarm 
criticism and our people will have naught 
against thee." 

Inasmuch as n\) sacrifice of principle was 
involved in the proposed concession, Paul 
agreed to it. This was in pursuance of his 
policy of "being all things to all men, that he 
might by all means save some." (1 Cor. 
9:22.) The line, however, was always 
drawn at the boundaries of right and wrong. 

But in this case his seemingly harmless 
compromise did not accomplish the desired 

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end. It chanced that certain Jews of Ephe- 
sus, who had come up to Pentecost, saw 
Paul in the Temple and immediately raised 
the cry, "Men of Israel, help ! Here is that 
apostate who has been preaching against 
us ! ' ' Presently the whole city was in an up- 
roar and Paul was faring ill at the hands of 
a bloodthirsty mob. 

The captain of the Roman garrison which 
was stationed at the Castle of Antonia near 
by, hearing the tumult, came at double-quick 
with a troop of six hundred men. Paul was 
rescued, bound with chains to a soldier on 
either hand, and carried away to the castle. 
As he was being taken up the outer stair- 
way he explained to Captain Lysias who he 
was and desired permission to address the 
mob. This was granted; and he proceeded 
to tell the oft-repeated story of his conver- 
sion. All went well until he referred to his 
commission, "I will send thee far hence unto 
the Gentiles." That was like a spark to 
tinder. ' ' Away with him ! Away with such 
a fellow from the earth! It is not fit that 
he should live! 9 ' 

He was hurried into the castle, and a com- 

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mand was given that he should be examined 
by scourging. But when Paul remarked 
that he was a Roman citizen, the captain not 
only desisted from the proposed scourging 
but gave orders that his prisoner should be 
loosed from his bonds. Thus it appears that 
Paul, who was always ready to turn the 
other cheek when anything was to be gained 
by doing so, was ready also on occasion to 
stand upon his rights. 

The next morning, on being haled to trial 
before the Sanhedrin, he began his defence 
by saying, "Men and brethren, I have lived 
in all good conscience before God until this 
day.' 9 That was as far as he was permitted 
to go. The high priest, who was none other 
than the sensual and corrupt Ananias, com- 
manded him to be smitten on the mouth. 
Paul, not knowing in the confusion who had 
given this command, retorted, "God shall 
smite thee, thou whited wall!" On being 
reproved for thus speaking of God's 
anointed, he made a suitable explanation and 
apology. 

As Paul was then proceeding with his de- 
fence he perceived that certain of the Jews 

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who were present sympathized with him in 
his affirmation of the resurrection of the 
dead : and, knowing that this was a bone of 
contention between the Sadducees and Phar- 
isees, he executed a flank movement, so to 
speak, and divided his foes. Thereupon a 
great tumult arose. The Sadducees cried 
out against Paul; but the Pharisees said, 
"We find no evil in him. Let us take heed 
lest we be found fighting against God!" So 
back to the castle went the prisoner at the 
bar. 

The next day a conspiracy was framed up 
against Paul. There were forty Jews — as 
zealously bent on evil as were Ali Baba and 
his forty thieves — who bound themselves by 
a solemn vow to kill him. It chanced, how- 
ever, that Paul's nephew got wind of the 
matter and informed Lysias of it. The cap- 
tain, fortunately, was not a man to counte- 
nance this sort of thing. At nine o'clock 
that night the sound of horses' hoofs was 
heard in the open court of the castle. The 
prisoner was brought out and placed in the 
charge of a military escort of five hundred 
men, who were charged to take him to Csesa- 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

rea and deliver him safely to the Roman 
Governor in that city. 

So ended Paul's visit to Jerusalem. Was 
it a failure ? No man fails who follows the 
pillar of cloud. Our success is never to be 
measured by visible results, but by faithful- 
ness in the discharge of whatever duty may 
be assigned to us. What said Luther when 
warned not to attend the Diet of Worms? 
"I would go, at my Lord's command, though 
the road to Worms were lined with devils as 
thick as the tiles on the housetops along the 
way." 

This is to quit one's self like a man! 



91 



XVIII 
AT CJESAREA 

Acts 23 : 23-35 ; 24 ; 25 ; 26 

On reaching Caesarea the Roman troop 
that had been charged with the safe conduct 
of Paul delivered him over to Felix the Gov- 
ernor, with the letter of Captain Lysias, as 
follows : 

"Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent 
Governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man 
was taken of the Jews, and should have been 
hilled of them: then came I with an army 
and rescued him, having understood that he 
was a Roman. And when I would have 
known the cause wherefore they accused him, 
I brought him forth into their Council. 
There I perceived him to be accused of ques- 
tions of their Law, but to have nothing laid 
to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. 
And when it was told me how that the Jews 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to 
thee, and gave commandment to his accusers 
also to say before thee what they had against 
him. Farewell." 

It was only twelve days since Paul had 
left Caesarea, despite all forebodings and 
warnings ; and what a tragic return was this ! 
He was then an honored guest of the breth- 
ren ; now he is bound with chains and held as 
a prisoner in the Judgment Hall. 

The religious leaders at Jerusalem, gnash- 
ing their teeth at his escape, made haste to 
follow him. It was a journey of seventy 
miles; but none too far for Ananias the 
priest, whose ears were still tingling with 
Paul's "thou whited wall"; nor for others 
of the Jews whose hearts were full of bitter- 
ness against him. They brought with them 
a Roman barrister, named Tertullus, that 
the case might be suitably conducted at a 
Roman Court. 

THE TRIAL BEFORE FELIX 

The counsel for the prosecution began 
with the usual flattery of the court, and then 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

presented the indictment, which was in three 
counts : First, the prisoner was a disturber 
of the peace ; second, he was a ringleader of 
the Nazarene sect; third, he was guilty of 
sacrilege in profaning the Temple of the 
Jews. 

Paul entered a plea of not guilty under all 
but the second of these charges, affirming 
that there was no proof to sustain them. 

An acquittal was in order, for lack of evi- 
dence against the prisoner ; but Felix was not 
the sort of magistrate to decide a case upon 
its merits. A slave by birth, a freedman by 
happy circumstances, an office-holder by im- 
perial favor, a past-master in all notorious 
vices, he postponed his decision ostensibly 
until Captain Lysias should arrive with the 
necessary proofs, but really in the hope that 
Paul's friends would buy him off. 

THE PRISONER ON EXHIBITION 

Now it chanced that Felix had a most 
beautiful and graceless paramour, named 
Drusilla, whose curiosity was aroused by 
what she had learned of the eloquent Jew; 
so that she must needs hear him. He was 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

summoned, accordingly, and invited to 
speak, A stranger audience had never as- 
sembled there; the Governor, his charming 
drab and the court favorites in rich apparel. 
No buttered words of compliment fell from 
the preacher's lips that day. This man with 
a chain on either wrist spoke straight as a 
bolt of lightning to the sinful hearts of his 
hearers. ' ' Righteousness, temperance, judg- 
ment to come"! Well might Paul tremble 
for his temerity! It is not Paul, however, 
but Felix who trembles! He and the little 
Jew have changed places. The Governor 
stands a shaking prisoner at the Judgment 
Bar of God! But his fear is only momen- 
tary; a glance at Drusilla the enchantress 
dispels it. Farewell, opportunity! "Go 
thy way for this time; when I have a con- 
venient season I will call for thee." 

The "convenient season" never came. 

It is a true saying, "Time and tide wait 
for no man. ' ' Paul languished two years in 
the guard-house, while Felix continued to 
take his pleasure at the pace that kills. 
Then, being removed from office, he left his 
prisoner bound "to please the Jews." 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 
THE TRIAL BEFORE FESTUS 

The next Governor was a different sort of 
man. In Josephus' life of him he speaks of 
Festus as "a just and efficient ruler.' ' He 
had scarcely entered on his office before 
there came a request that Paul might be 
sent back to Jerusalem for trial before the 
Sanhedrin. A fine proceeding that would 
have been! Of course Festus refused; but 
he invited the rabbis to come down to Caesa- 
rea and conclude the case. 

A few days later they were on hand ; and 
court was opened with Festus on the bench. 
The charge was presented with "many and 
grievous complaints"; to all of which the 
prisoner entered his former plea of not 
guilty. And unfortunately for his accusers 
they had still no evidence against him. The 
Governor was disposed to favor the Jews if 
it could be done without violating the law; 
wherefore he asked Paul if he had any objec- 
tion to the transfer of his case to Jerusalem 
that he might "there be judged of these 
things." 

Paul's forbearance had now reached its 



• PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

limit. He was weary of being beaten to and 
fro by petty magistrates in provincial courts. 
Thus far he had submitted without a mur- 
mur; but the time had come to stand upon 
his personal rights. If anybody has esti- 
mated the stature of this man at five feet 
two, let him measure him now! "I have 
done no wrong; I have spent a weary term 
in your guard-house : I have suffered no end 
of indignities at your hands. I will not go 
up to Jerusalem! I am a Eoman citizen! 
I appeal to Caesar!" 

After a brief conference with his coun- 
sellors as to the prisoner's right of appeal, 
there being no alternative the decision was 
given in legal form: "To Caesar thou hast 
appealed; to Caesar shalt thou go." 

The court adjourned, and Paul went back 
to prison to await the sailing of a govern- 
ment ship which was to convey other prison- 
ers also to the imperial city. But his heart 
was singing; he was going to Rome! Not 
indeed as he had hoped, free to declare the 
unsearchable riches of Christ; but he was 
going to Rome ; and he was going in the way 
divinely marked out for him. 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 
THE PRISONER AGAIN ON EXHIBITION 

It happened that, while Paul was awaiting 
his transfer, Agrippa, the King of Trachoni- 
tis, came down to Csesarea to felicitate 
Festus on his accession to office; and his 
sister Bernice, a famous and malodorous 
beauty, came with him. They had heard 
much of the eloquent Jew and expressed a 
desire to hear him. 

A brilliant company was assembled in the 
Pretorian Hall when the prisoner was 
brought in. Being " permitted to speak for 
himself," he began with the story of his 
early life, leading up rapidly to his singular 
conversion on the Damascus highway and to 
his unwavering conviction that the crucified 
Jesus was the long-looked-for Messiah of 
the Jews. At this point Festus, unable to 
restrain his indignation, cried: "Paul, 
thou art beside thyself ; much learning doth 
make thee mad!" "I am not mad, most 
noble Festus," was the prisoner's calm re- 
joinder, "but speak forth the words of truth 
and soberness." Then turning to the royal 
guest, himself a Jew, he appealed to his an- 

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eestral faith: "King Agrippa, believest 
thou the prophets'? I know that thou be- 
lievest ! ' ' Paul was now on familiar ground. 
He was acquainted with the prophets from 
Moses to Malachi; and knew how they all 
pointed to Jesus as the Christ. But 
Agrippa was in no mood to be thus cornered 
and convinced against his will. His answer 
was a scornful jest, " Almost thou persuadest 
me to be a Christian !" Whereupon Paul, 
with the pathos of an infinite longing in his 
voice, emphasized by the clanking of the 
chains upon his wrists, made courteous re- 
ply, "I would to God that not only thou, but 
also all that hear me this day, were both 
' almost' and altogether such as I am — except 
these bonds.' ' 

The hearing is over. The prisoner is re- 
turned to the guard-house. In a corner of 
the Pretorian Hall a group of his auditors 
are saying, "This man hath done nothing 
worthy of death or even of bonds.' ' 
Agrippa, whose sense of justice will not 
down, observes to Festus, "This man might 
have been set at liberty if he had not ap- 
pealed unto Caesar." But the decree of the 



PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

court is irrevocable. To Caesar he must go. 
In his lonely cell the prisoner awaits the 
course of events. He is troubled by no mis- 
givings. God leads the way and his face is 
set steadfastly to go. His only ambition is 
to finish his course with joy. 



leo 



XIX 

PAUL'S LAST VOYAGE 

Acts 27 ; 28 : 1-14 

The ship was swinging at anchor in the 
harbor of Caesarea, when a favorable wind 
sprang up, Paul with the other prisoners 
was at once taken aboard in the custody of 
a centurion named Julius, a man of marked 
courtesy, who was charged with their safe 
conduct to Eome. 

THE LOG OF THE VOYAGE 

(Kept by Luke the Physician, a Companion of Paul.) 

Aug. 21 9 a. d. 60. Set sail due north in a 
favorable breeze with two hundred and sev- 
enty-six souls aboard. 

Aug. 22. Touched at Sidon. Paul per- 
mitted to go ashore and interview his 
friends. Thence in a northwesterly course 
for a time, after which due west. Delayed 
by contrary winds. 

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Aug. 29. Reached Myra, where we were 
transferred to an Alexandrian corn-ship 
making for Rome. Our quarters in the hold 
uncomfortable; but the Lord was with us. 
Winds rising ; progress slow. 

Sept. 11. Touched at Cnidus, our last 
Asiatic port. Desired to sail due west, but 
forced southward by rising adverse winds. 

Sept. 26. Took refuge in Fair Havens in 
the island of Crete, an ill-sheltered port. 
Lay here many days, waiting for favorable 
weather. All hope of reaching Rome be- 
fore winter now given up. The storm abat- 
ing for a while, the captain was disposed to 
make for Phenice, a safe and commodious 
harbor a few miles further on. Paul 
warned him vainly against doing so. What 
could a landsman like him know about navi- 
gation or weather signs % 

Oct. 18. Set sail from Fair Havens in a 
treacherous south wind. Had scarcely 
rounded the cape before there were ominous 
signs of a storm. Euroclydon, the sailor's 
terror, was sweeping down from the hills! 
There was scarcely time to take in sail be- 
fore it overtook us. The second day out the 

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vessel struck a leak and was undergirt with 
cables. On the third day the cargo was 
thrown over: followed the next day by all 
dispensable furniture and other equipments. 
Darkness for many days ; lost our bearings. 
Hope abandoned. Then Paul to the rescue ! 
He bade the sailors be of good cheer, because 
an angel of the Lord had appeared to him 
in a vision saying that he himself was to 
reach Rome safely and that there would be 
"no loss of life" among the ship's crew and 
passengers. Thereupon courage revived ; 
but the typhoon swept on. 

Nov. 1. Wrecked on the coast of Malta. 
We were wakened at midnight by the look- 
out calling "Land ahead!" Soundings 
were taken; twenty fathoms, then fifteen. 
Cast anchor and awaited the break of day. 
The crew intending to take possession of the 
boats, Paul interposed, warning the captain 
that unless they remained all would be lost. 
His advice was taken; the ropes were cut, 
setting the boats adrift. Paul, the lands- 
man, was now in practical command of the 
ship. After long fasting all partook of 
food. In the morning, finding ourselves at 

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the entrance of a bay, it was resolved to run 
in. The ship went aground and was at the 
mercy of the pounding breakers. The 
soldiers, being answerable with their lives 
for the prisoners, would have killed them to 
prevent their escape ; but the centurion in 
charge forbade it. Each for himself, now! 
Many, leaping out, swam ashore. Others 
betook themselves to boards and broken 
pieces of the ship. So it came to pass that 
all escaped safe to land. 

The island proved to be Malta. The bar- 
barous inhabitants received us kindly. A 
fire was kindled on the shore. Out of the 
fagots crept a viper which fastened on Paul's 
hand. The natives expected him to fall 
dead; but he shook it off and received no 
harm. Thereupon they whispered among 
themselves, "He is a god !" 

The fury of the simoon was now spent; 
but we remained three months in the island 
waiting for the Castor and Pollux, a corn- 
ship which lay weather-bound in the harbor, 
to take us off. 

Feb. 8, a. d. 61. Sailed on the Castor and 
Pollux. 

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Feb. 9. Touched at Syracuse: waited 
three days for a more favorable wind. 

Feb. 13. Made eighty miles in a southerly 
breeze and touched at Rhegium. One day. 

Feb. 14. Made Puteoli, the chief port of 
Italy, and disembarked. Met some of the 
brethren. Tarried seven days. Then on, 
afoot, toward Rome, a distance of a hundred 
and forty miles. 

So runs the Log of this eventful voyage, 
consuming half a year. Its one outstanding 
lesson is the serene faith of Paul. While the 
storm was raging he slept soundly on three 
pillows ; namely, the wisdom and power and 
goodness of God. 

Ridge of the mountain wave, lower thy crest ! 
Wail of Euroclydon, be thou at rest ! 
Sorrow can never be, darkness must fly, 
When saith the Light of light, " Peace, it is I!" 

Observe, First, Paul "believed -God." 
Having certain promises, he took them at 
their face value. Thus it is written, "He 
that cometh to God must believe that he is, 
and that he is the rewarder of them that 
diligently seek him." 

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Second, he " practised the divine pres- 
ence.^ On the darkest night of the simoon 
he had a most hopeful vision of which he 
says, ' ' The Lord stood by me. ' ■ It is always 
so with those who live on speaking terms 
with God. 

Third, his faith was buttressed by com- 
mon sense. Notwithstanding his confidence 
that all aboard were to be saved, he assured 
the captain that if the crew was not pre- 
vented from seizing the boats all would be 
lost. The divine sovereignty does not inter- 
fere with the freedom of the human will. 

Fourth, his assurance was coupled with 
praise. He "said grace' ' over the frugal 
meal on the tossing ship. During all those 
frightful "fourteen days in Adria" he never 
lost confidence in the Lord's faithfulness. 
It is thus that God giveth his beloved songs 
in the night. 

It is in this spirit that Paul writes to his 
Philippian friends: "Rejoice in the Lord 
alway: and again I say, Rejoice. ... Be 
careful for nothing; but in everything by 
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving 
let your requests be made known unto God." 

106 



XX 

AT ROME 

Acts 28 : 15-31 

It was early spring of the year 61 when 
the Castor and Pollux came sailing up 
through the beautiful Bay of Naples to Pu- 
teoli. The crew and passengers debarked; 
and presently Paul and his fellow-prisoners 
set out for their destination along Appia 
Via. At villages on the way Paul was met 
by many brethren; wherefore, he says, "we 
thanked God and took courage." So at 
length he reached Rome, a prisoner in bonds. 

His life-long dream was realized at last: 
' * I must see Rome ! ' ' But why this consum- 
ing desire ? 

Rome was well worth seeing, no doubt, 
with its palaces and temples, its Forum and 
Colosseum and triumphal arches. "See 
Rome and die," was one of the familiar 
proverbs of those days. It was the metrop- 

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olis of the world ; all great enterprises cen- 
tered there. No tourist, even nowadays, is 
content until, with " Baedeker" in hand, he 
visits Kome; though its ancient splendors 
are now reduced to a lamentable mass of 
ruins. 

But Paul's desire reached further and 
went deeper than this. Though a great trav- 
eller, he had no thought of sight-seeing. As 
an " ambassador of Christ" he longed to wit- 
ness far and wide for him. To stand in the 
Forum and preach the gospel there at the 
confluence of the nations would be to send 
his voice ringing to the uttermost parts of 
the earth. A lofty ambition, indeed ! This 
man was never content with mediocrity. He 
had "hitched his wagon to a star." 

It would appear that his intention of vis- 
iting Eome was conceived at the very begin- 
ning of his Christian life. 

The dream of his boyhood had been to be- 
come a rabbi. With that in view he left his 
home in Tarsus and studied in the University 
of Jerusalem, at the feet of the learned Ga- 
maliel, who was known as "the Flower of 
the Law." Soon after his graduation with 

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high honors he was chosen a member of the 
Sanhedrin, which was the Supreme Court of 
the Jews. A splendid outlook was before 
him. Presently he was made Chief Inquis- 
itor of that distinguished body, and was 
placed under a special commission to root 
out "the heresy of the Nazarenes." It was 
while thus engaged that he made his notable 
journey to Damascus "breathing out slaugh- 
ter" against the followers of Christ. , 

Then came the revolutionary change. In 
the light that shone from heaven, "above the 
brightness of the sun," his plans and pur- 
poses were instantly turned upside down. 
He fell to the earth a rabbi; he rose up a 
Christian. Hearing a voice say, "I am 
Jesus," his immediate answer was, "What 
wilt thou have me to do?" The reply was, 
"I will send thee far hence unto the Gen- 
tiles"; in other words, to all people. That 
meant sooner or later to Rome; for Eome 
was colluvies gentium, the center of the civ- 
ized world of those days. 

From that time forward he was unreserv- 
edly committed to the service of Christ. 
Forsaken by former friends, with all ave- 

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mies of preferment blocked up, he hewed 
to the line which had been divinely marked 
out for him. Listen to this: "I count all 
things but loss for the excellency of the 
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; . . . 
that I may know him and the power of his 
resurrection and the fellowship of his suffer- 
ings. ... I count not myself to have appre- 
hended; but this one thing I do, forgetting 
those things which are behind, and reaching 
forth unto those things which are before, I 
press toward the mark for the prize of the 
high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 

Did the Lord approve of his desire to see 
Eome? Paul affirms that his purpose was 
"according to the will of God." He says 
repeatedly that "the Lord stood by him." 
If ever there was a Christian who felt him- 
self a living part of the divine plan and de- 
sired, above all, to hold himself in line with 
the divine will, it was this man. 

On the day when he first saw Jesus he put 
himself so wholly and implicitly under his 
control that looking back, years afterward, 
he could say, "I have not been disobedient 

unto the heavenly vision. ' ' His Lord's pur- 

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pose was his ultimate goal, and he followed 
it as a sailor heeds the polar star. Once 
when he essayed to go into Bithynia he de- 
sisted, as he says, because "the Spirit suf- 
fered him not." In writing to the Chris- 
tians at Rome he says, "Oftentimes I pur- 
posed to come unto you, and was hindered." 
(Rom. 1 : 13.) Nevertheless he was not 
discouraged. He reckoned Rome as a 
necessary factor in the finishing of his 
course. 

He never for a moment gave up his pur- 
pose and expectation. It was nineteen years 
after his conversion, at the conclusion of his 
evangelistic campaign in Ephesus when the 
converts made a great bonfire of their cabal- 
istic books, that he "purposed in spirit" to 
extend his campaign through Macedonia and 
Achaia and thence to Jerusalem, saying, 
"After that, I must see Rome!" 

Two years subsequently he wrote his Epis- 
tle to the Romans, reassuring them of his 
purpose to visit them. He begins by saying, 
"God is my witness, whom I serve with my 
spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without 

ceasing I make mention of you always in my 

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prayers; making request, if by any means 
now at length I might have a prosperous 
journey by the will of God to come unto you. 
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto 
you some spiritual gifts, to the end ye may 
be established ; that is, that I may be com- 
forted together with you by the mutual faith 
both of you and me." And in closing he 
pathetically urges them to unite their 
prayers with his to that end: "I beseech 
you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's 
sake and for the love of the Spirit, that ye 
strive together with me in your prayers, that 
I may be delivered from them that do not 
believe, that I may come to you with joy by 
the will of God. " 

But he was strangely hindered in the ac- 
complishment of his desire. To use his own 
words, "I oftentimes purposed, and was hin- 
dered hitherto." And again, "Having a 
great desire these many years to come unto 
you." 

In the year 47 he set out on a missionary 

journey with his face toward the west. He 

probably hoped then to reach the Imperial 

City ; but, having preached in many places, 

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he came to Cilicia and wag there constrained 
to turn back. 

In the year 50 he set out again toward 
the west. On this occasion he crossed the 
Hellespont and canvassed many of the im- 
portant cities of Europe until he reached 
Corinth; and again he was obliged to turn 
back. 

In the year 53 he started on his third mis- 
sionary journey in the direction of Rome. 
It was now sixteen years since his conver- 
sion, and he was apparently no nearer the 
fulfilment of his heart's desire. Again he 
reached Corinth ; but there were imperative 
reasons for his being at Jerusalem in time 
for the Feast of Pentecost ; wherefore once 
more he retraced his steps. 

But "he that belie veth shall not make 
haste." Paul's patience of hope was sure 
to be rewarded. He could afford to wait, 
because, as he says, he "believed God." 

At length his desire was realized, but in a 
singular way. "Man proposes; God dis- 
poses." He reached Rome a prisoner in 
bonds. At once he was taken to the Pre- 
torian Camp ; where, though in close custody 

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for two years, he was permitted to see his 
friends. He conferred with the Jews by ap- 
pointment, seeking in vain to persuade them 
that "this Jesus is the Christ." He held 
frequent converse with the Christians of the 
Roman church, and received many visitors 
who desired to know about "The Way." 

Time passed, and Paul was again cast into 
prison: this time in the Mammertine jail. 
But "stone walls do not a prison make nor 
iron bars a cage." He was not idle in that 
noisome place: and "the word of God is not 
bound." Some of Paul's most important 
letters were written there. Old and feeble, 
he could not be put down. His irrepressi- 
ble zeal in the service of his Lord reminds 
us of what an old poet says : 

1 * Tumble me down, and I will sit 
Exultant on my ruins yet!" 

His keen soul caught the presentiment of 
the coming end, his ear the footfall of the 
executioner ringing down the corridor of the 
jail. But he was not terrified. "I am now 
ready to be offered and the time of my de- 
parture is at hand, 9 ' he wrote to Timothy, 

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his spiritual son and successor in the pastor- 
ate of the Ephesian church. ' ' I have fought 
a good fight, I have finished my course, I 
have kept the faith. Henceforth there is 
laid up for me a crown of righteousness 
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall 
give me at that day. Grace be with you. 
Amen." 

They led him to the headsman's block, 
outside the walls. A blow of the gleaming 
axe ; and the great apostle was at home with 
God. 

What is the lesson ? 

The splendor of a great ambition. 

Paul was not content with anything less 
than the noblest and best. For one thing, 
he wanted to make the most of himself; and 
Rome was needed for the rounding out of 
his life, 

I like the prayer of the humble cobbler 
who used to ask every day, "Lord, give me a 
good opinion of myself"; but such a prayer 
is vain without something worth while be- 
hind it. 

This is a responsibility which ought to 
rest upon the conscience of every one. The 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

world would be a different world but for its 
"mute inglorious Miltons." The Church 
would long ago have conquered the world 
were it not that so many are satisfied with 
being minimum Christians, inactive and in- 
different, imbedded like flies in amber. 
Who shall number the potential Lincolns 
who, for lack of ambition, are rail-splitters 
all their lives? Wherefore, "stir up the 
gift that is in thee." There is fire enough 
in the embers of every Christian life if only 
it were fanned into a flame. No minister is 
at liberty to be satisfied with a small parish 
if his gifts and calling are adequate to the 
responsibilities of a larger one. Every man 
is under bonds to be somebody, not for the 
sake of getting into the limelight but in 
order that he may make his life tell. Our 
light was not kindled to be hid under a 
bushel, but to shine so that "all that are in 
the house" may take knowledge of it. 

But Paul was thinking less of being some- 
body than of doing something for somebody. 
The chain on his right hand bound him to 
Christ. With what joyous pride he speaks 
of himself as "the prisoner of Christ!" 

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PAUL'S CAMPAIGNS 

There was no reserve in his consecration: 
' ' The love of Christ constraineth me!" But 
his service to Christ was expressed in 
ministry to others; as Christ himself had 
said, " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one 
of the least of these my brethren ye have 
done it unto Me." 

The same chain that bound Paul to his 
Lord bound him to one of the Eoman guards ; 
and he preached the Gospel to that man. 
Not a few of his spiritual children were thus 
begotten in his bonds. "They that are of 
Caesar 's household salute you. ' ' No pent-up 
Utica confined his influence. The reason 
why he longed to visit Rome was because it 
was a coign of vantage from which to sound 
forth the riches of grace. There were two 
millions of people there, all immortal souls ! 
From there he must send his message, 
"This Jesus is the Christ," ringing through 
the world and down the ages. Nothing less 
would satisfy him. To reach Eome would 
thus be to finish his course with joy. 

The world has been moving since Paul 
came sailing into Puteoli on the "Castor and 
Pollux." Not long ago I followed in his 

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very footsteps along the Appian Way. The 
dusk was falling; the shadows of the Faler- 
nian Hills lay over the plain, and in the dis- 
tance the dome of St. Peter's was dimly out- 
lined against the sky. Nero no longer dwelt 
in his blood-stained quarters on the Pala- 
tine. In the cottages by tire roadside were 
people sitting in vine-covered porches with 
none to molest or make them afraid. The 
Gospel has not been shining for naught 
these nineteen hundred years. And what- 
ever has been accomplished for the better- 
ment of the world has been through the in- 
strumentality of men who like Paul were 
constrained to service "by the will of God." 
Wherefore let us be our best and do our 
utmost for Him who has redeemed us by 
his precious blood. We are all too easily 
satisfied. The words with which William 
Carey closed his great sermon inaugurating 
the modern campaign of Missions strike an 
inspiring note for all earnest souls: "Let 
us undertake great things for God, and ex- 
pect great things from him" 



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